Navigating New UK SPS Regulations for Tea, Coffee & Horticulture Exports in 2025

Standing at the intersection of two worlds—Kenyan agriculture and UK consumer demand—I’ve come to appreciate both the opportunities and the hurdles in trade. In recent months, one issue has repeatedly dominated conversations among exporters, importers, and regulators alike: sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) regulations. These rules—covering everything from pesticide residue levels to packaging and traceability—can mean the difference between a thriving export consignment and one that never leaves port.

In this blog, I’ll explore how recent changes in the UK’s SPS regulations are affecting Kenyan tea, coffee, and horticulture exports. I’ll share insights from the perspective of an African businesswoman living in the North East of England, working closely with both Kenyan producers and UK distributors. My goal is to demystify the changes, highlight common pitfalls, and suggest strategies that small and medium-sized exporters can use to stay competitive.

Why SPS Matters More Than Ever in 2025

For exporters of fresh produce, tea, or coffee, SPS rules are not an abstract concept. They’re lived realities. A mismatch in pesticide residue levels or incomplete certification can result in:

• Delays at customs ports (in Newcastle, Hull, or Felixstowe, for example)

• Rejected consignments, sometimes destroyed at great cost

• Damaged reputations with buyers who expect flawless compliance

UK regulators, now free of EU structures post-Brexit, have been aligning some standards with international norms while also introducing new measures to reflect consumer expectations on sustainability, food safety, and transparency. The result: exporters need to constantly adapt.

For Kenyan businesses, the stakes are especially high. Tea and coffee remain top exports to the UK, while horticulture—flowers, fruits, and vegetables—has been growing in importance. The UK is not only a market in its own right but also a gateway to Europe, meaning compliance here often signals readiness for wider global trade.

Recent Changes in UK SPS Rules

So, what has actually changed in the last year or two? Let’s break it down.

1. Stricter Pesticide Residue Limits

The UK has updated its maximum residue limits (MRLs) for certain pesticides used in tea, coffee, fruits, and vegetables.

In tea, residues from fungicides and insecticides now face lower thresholds.

Coffee exports are under tighter scrutiny for mycotoxins (like ochratoxin A), which can occur if beans are not properly stored or dried.

Fresh produce such as beans, peas, and avocados from Kenya are subject to detailed residue testing, with penalties for even small deviations.

For many Kenyan smallholders, who rely on limited access to crop protection products, these changes can be daunting.

2. Expanded Traceability Requirements

UK authorities now demand greater transparency in the supply chain. Exporters must be able to trace produce back to its farm of origin. This requires:

• Proper record-keeping at farm level

• Batch coding and digital tracking

• Documentation to show compliance with good agricultural practice

Traceability is no longer a “nice to have.” It’s a precondition for market entry.

3. Revised Rules for Organic & Sustainability Labelling

For horticulture especially, labels like “organic” or “Fairtrade” are under tighter control. The UK requires certification from accredited bodies recognised internationally. Local Kenyan certifications are often not enough unless cross-recognised. For many producers, this adds extra cost and bureaucracy.

4. Digitalisation of Paperwork

The UK is moving towards digital border systems. Health certificates, customs declarations, and SPS compliance forms increasingly must be filed electronically. This is a positive step long-term, but in the short term, exporters with poor digital access risk being left behind.

5. Spot Checks and Risk-Based Inspections

Ports in the North East (like Teesport and the Port of Tyne) have seen increased “spot check” activity. High-risk commodities—like herbs, peas, and green beans—often face more frequent inspections. Exporters with a strong track record may see reduced checks, but newcomers often get caught in lengthy delays.

How These Changes Impact Kenyan Exporters

The regulatory tightening has had a range of effects on the ground:

• Cost Pressure: Farmers and exporters must invest in testing, certification, and record-keeping. For smallholder farmers, these costs can be prohibitive.

• Delays and Uncertainty: When consignments are held up, perishable goods lose value fast. A box of herbs arriving late in Newcastle is worth far less to a supermarket chain.

• Knowledge Gaps: Many Kenyan farmers and even some exporters are unaware of the latest changes. By the time issues are discovered, goods may already be in transit.

• Disqualification of Small Players: Larger exporters, with resources to invest in compliance, thrive. Smaller producers risk being cut out of supply chains unless they can form cooperatives or partnerships.

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A Day in My Shoes: Compliance in Practice

Here’s a glimpse of what compliance feels like for me:

Last month, I coordinated a shipment of green beans from Kirinyaga County to the UK. Before the goods left Kenya, we arranged lab testing for pesticide residues. The paperwork came back clear, but the consignment was still pulled for spot-checking at Tyne Dock. For two days, the beans sat in cold storage awaiting clearance. By the time they reached the supermarket shelves, their freshness window had shrunk by almost half.

Meanwhile, a batch of tea from Kericho went through without incident—because the exporter had impeccable records, clear batch codes, and a reputation with UK import authorities as a “trusted supplier.” That’s when it struck me: compliance isn’t just about one shipment. It’s about building trust across shipments over years.

Common Pitfalls Exporters Face

In my experience, Kenyan exporters most often fall short in five key areas:

1. Incomplete Documentation – Missing health certificates, or mismatched data between customs forms and SPS paperwork.

2. Inconsistent Pesticide Use – Farmers may switch crop protection products without updating records, leading to unexpected residues.

3. Weak Traceability Systems – Produce from multiple small farms gets mixed, making it impossible to trace back to origin.

4. Last-Minute Certification – Exporters scramble for certificates just before shipping, rather than embedding compliance in the process.

5. Overreliance on Intermediaries – Some exporters rely on agents who may not be up to date with new regulations. This leads to costly errors.

   
   

Strategies for Exporters: Staying Ahead

So how can Kenyan tea, coffee, and horticulture exporters navigate the new UK SPS landscape? Here are some strategies I recommend:

1. Invest in Regular Testing

Instead of only testing when shipments are due, exporters should schedule regular residue and quality tests. This builds confidence with buyers and reduces last-minute surprises.

2. Strengthen Farmer Training

Knowledge is power. Training smallholder farmers in proper pesticide use, record-keeping, and hygiene can close gaps. Cooperative models can help spread training costs across many farmers.

3. Digital Traceability Tools

Simple mobile apps can allow farmers to log activities, and exporters to batch-code products effectively. Even SMS-based systems can be effective where smartphones are scarce.

4. Build Long-Term Buyer Relationships

Trusted supplier status reduces inspection frequency. Exporters should work on consistent compliance to build a strong track record with UK importers.

5. Explore Group Certification

For smallholders, group certification schemes (where cooperatives apply collectively for organic or Fairtrade recognition) can reduce costs.

6. Leverage Diaspora Networks

Kenyan diaspora entrepreneurs in the UK, especially in the North East, can act as bridges—helping navigate local regulations, interpreting requirements, and building distribution channels.

The Role of UK Importers & Policy Makers

Exporters aren’t the only ones with responsibilities. UK buyers and regulators also play a role in making the system fair:

• Clarity: Providing simple, translated guidelines on SPS rules for exporters in developing countries.

• Capacity Building: Partnering with Kenyan agencies to fund training, labs, and digital systems.

• Fair Burden Sharing: Recognising the cost burden of certification and sharing some of it, especially when buyer demands exceed baseline regulations.

• Risk-Based Approach: Rewarding consistent compliance with reduced inspections, instead of treating every exporter as high-risk.

Looking Ahead: What Exporters Should Prepare For

The trajectory is clear: SPS regulations will only get stricter. By 2030, we can expect even more emphasis on:

• Carbon footprint tracking – including data on how goods are grown, packaged, and shipped.

• Digital-first systems – with blockchain or advanced digital verification to ensure transparency.

• Sustainability certifications – increasingly becoming baseline rather than premium.

For Kenyan exporters, this is both a challenge and an opportunity. Those who invest early in compliance, sustainability, and traceability will not just survive but thrive in the UK market.

Conclusion: Compliance as a Competitive Edge

From my desk in Newcastle, working with Kenyan partners thousands of miles away, I see SPS regulations not just as red tape but as a potential source of competitive advantage. Yes, they are burdensome. Yes, they raise costs and risks. But they also ensure that Kenyan exports are recognised globally as safe, sustainable, and trustworthy.

For tea, coffee, and horticulture businesses in Kenya, the message is clear: don’t treat compliance as a box-ticking exercise. Make it part of your brand. Build it into your story. Show UK buyers and consumers that Kenyan products are not only delicious and beautiful but also responsibly produced and reliably delivered.

That is how we will secure our place not just in the UK market of 2025, but in the global markets of the next decade.