The government of Kenya through the ministry of agriculture has introduced new levies on the Miraa trade. This new levies comes in the backdrop on the recent resumption of the product to Somalia.

The tonnage based levy will be charged on commercial Miraa transporters. the transporters will be expected to pay up to 10,000 shillings in license fees. This new regulations have been published in crop regulations. The regulations are expected to ensure that there is production of quality products for both local and international consumption.

According to the regulations, a transporter handling less than 500 kg of the plant will pay 5,000 while those dealing with products above 1,000 kgs will part with 10,000 shillings.

Licences and Levies

Any licensed transporter will be expected to display their licence on the windscreen. A further levy(per kg) of  ks 30 on all exports and 60 shillings on imports have also been introduced in this new regulations. Export licences will be charged at 20,000 shillings with an annual renewal of Ksh 10,000. Import licences will be charged at 50,000 shillings with a renewal of shillings 30,000 annually.

Export and import permits will also be issued at ksh 4,000 and ksh 6,000 respectively. This regulations have been published three years after they were first announced. Experts in the matters of economy and tax are indicating that this delay was due to the importation ban.

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However since the ban has been lifted, then the farmers and exporters can be able to pay for the levies as they resume normal business.