| Continental (AU/AfCFTA) | AU | Continental Integration | Abuja Treaty – African Economic Community | Trade & investment | Legal foundation for AfCFTA; SPS/NTB alignment | In force (1994) | Drives market unification; SPS harmonisation uneven | Prepare for continent-wide SPS/organic norms; organise to scale production for pan-African markets. |
| AU | Strategic Vision | Agenda 2063 | Sustainable agriculture & trade | Political 50-yr plan; 10-yr targets | Ongoing | Green/agroecology pillars underfunded; weak data | Use Agenda 2063 to lobby for incentives, infrastructure & inclusion in national plans. |
| AfCFTA | Trade in Goods | AfCFTA Agreement & Protocol on Trade in Goods | Tariffs, NTBs, RoO, SPS | Tariff liberalisation (97% lines), NTB portal | In force 2019; trade since 2021 | NTB reporting underused; RoO schedules incomplete | Claim zero/low tariffs if RoO met; report NTBs; push for organic/SPS MRAs to cut compliance costs. |
| AfCFTA | Trade in Services | AfCFTA Protocol on Trade in Services | Logistics, finance, certification | Service liberalisation (transport, finance, ICT) | In force 2019 | Commitments are partial; mutual recognition is slow | Cheaper cross-border logistics, finance & certifiers ? use PAPSS & regional e-certification. |
| AfCFTA | Inclusive Trade | AfCFTA Protocol on Women & Youth in Trade | Women/youth empowerment | Training, finance, policy inclusion | Adopted 2023 | Not yet operationalised in all states | Women/youth agro-SMEs can seek grants/training & inclusion in AfCFTA committees. |
| AfCFTA | Investment | AfCFTA Investment Protocol | Green & sustainable agri-investment | Responsible investment rules | Adopted 2023; pending ratifications | Ratification is slow; no green finance incentives | Advocate for eco-investment incentives; attract green funds once ratified. |
| AfCFTA | Competition | AfCFTA Competition Protocol | Market fairness | Anti-monopoly rules | Adopted 2023; pending | The African Competition Authority is not yet active | Monitor for buyer power abuses; CSOs can report unfair practices hurting smallholders. |
| AfCFTA | IPR | AfCFTA IP Rights Protocol | GIs, TK, seed rights | Protects origin & farmer knowledge | Adopted 2023; pending | GI systems fragmented; farmer rights weak | Register geographical indications (GIs); protect traditional seeds & branding. |
| Regional (EAC) | EAC | Market Integration | Treaty Establishing the EAC | Agriculture, trade, environment | Legal order; SPS/TBT co-op; NTB removal | In force 2000 | Domestication is uneven, especially. SPS/organic | Check each state’s transposed SPS & organic rules before exporting. |
| EAC | Customs & Tariffs | Customs Union Protocol | Goods trade | CET, STR, NTB mechanism | In force 2005 | CET derogations; NTB portal underused | Use STR & SCO to save costs; watch CET updates on inputs/packaging. |
| EAC | Services & Mobility | Common Market Protocol | Labour, capital, services | Free movement; MRAs | In force 2010 | Skills & certifier MRAs slow | Certification/logistics providers may face barriers ? plan lead time. |
| EAC | Payments & Finance | Monetary Union Protocol | Payments, FX | Single currency roadmap | 2013 ? | Convergence delayed | Plan for FX risks & multi-currency costs. |
| EAC | Environment & Natural Resources | Protocol on Environment & NR | Soil, biodiversity | Sustainability duties | In force 2006 | Weak enforcement | Can brand eco-practices; lobby for soil/water incentives. |
| EAC | Customs Modernisation | EAC Customs Management Act (rev. 2019) | Perishables clearance | OSBPs, RECTS, and advance rulings | Rev. 2019 | SPS is not fully integrated | Request advance tariff/SPS rulings; use OSBPs to cut delays. |
| EAC | Standards & Quality | SQMT Act, 2006 | Standards, conformity | EASC harmonisation & marks | In force 2006 | Varying uptake | Seek the EAC mark to avoid retesting in each country. |
| EAC | SPS | EAC SPS Measures | Food/plant health | Risk-based SPS | Since 2013 | Coordination uneven | Obtain EAC-aligned SPS certs early; anticipate pest-risk analysis. |
| EAC | NTB Elimination | EAC NTB Act, 2017 | Internal trade | Legal removal & penalties | In force 2017 | SME reporting low | Report NTBs online/SMS; collective action speeds resolution. |
| EAC | MSME Facilitation | Simplified Trade Regime & SCO Guide | Small consignments | STR/SCO | Ongoing | Underused, esp. women/youth | Small traders: use STR lists/SCO to save duty & avoid harassment. |
| EAC | Vision & Strategy | EAC Vision 2050 | Agri-modernization | Strategic roadmap | Ongoing | Agroecology not mainstreamed | Push to include agroecology in 5-year plans, infrastructure support. |
| Kenya | National | Standards | Standards Act & KEBS | Quality & certification | Mandatory KEBS mark/testing | Current | Costly for SMEs | Budget for KEBS tests & labelling to avoid seizures. |
| | SPS/Seeds | KEPHIS Act 2012 | Plant health/seeds | Phytosanitary & seed reg. | 2012 | Updates ongoing | Secure phyto certs & seed reg before export. |
| | Inputs/Pesticides | Pest Control Products Act | Input safety | Registration/license | 1982 (rev.) | Enforcement & counterfeit action | Only registered biopesticides/inputs accepted. |
| | Soil/Agroecology | Soil Management Policy 2023 | Soil health | Incentives & extension | 2023 | Rollout early stage | May unlock subsidies/training for soil-friendly farming. |
| | Organic/EOA | EOA Sector Strategy 2018-23 | Organic markets | Sector plan/EAOPS | 2018-23 | Pilots; EAOPS uptake | Leverage EAOPS to access buyers; plan for private certs too. |
| Uganda | National | Organic | National Organic Agriculture Policy | Organic exports | Policy & support | 2019 | Scaling certification | Tap support programs; co-op for lower cert costs. |
| | Standards | UNBS Act & Amend. | Standards | UNBS cert & enforcement | 1983+2013 | Active updates | Obtain UNBS S-Mark & monitor updates. |
| | SPS | Plant Protection & Health Act 2015 | Plant health | Phyto cert/pest risk | 2015 | Core SPS | Apply phyto early; maintain pest control records. |
| | Seeds | Seeds & Plant Act + Regs | Seeds & planting | Certification/licensing | 2007+2017 | Functional | Meet seed licensing to avoid seizure. |
| Tanzania | National | Standards & Food | Standards Act & TBS | Standards, food safety | TBS mark/inspections | 2009?2019 | TFDA functions moved to TBS | Plan for TBS approvals & food safety inspections. |
| Rwanda | National | Food Safety | Law No. 003/2018 – Rwanda FDA | Food/drugs | FDA enforcement | 2018 | In force | Food exports need Rwanda FDA clearance + RSB S-Mark. |
| | Standards | Law No. 50/2013 – RSB | Standards | RSB + S-Mark | 2013 | Clear roles FDA/RSB | Align labels & tests to RSB specs. |
| Burundi | National | Standards/Labels | BBN FOP Nutrition Guidance | Food labelling | FOP nutrition label | 2025 | Rolling out | Prepare nutrition/FOP panels to avoid re-labelling at the border. |
| South Sudan | National | Standards | | Standards/metrology | SSNBS setup | 2012 | Gradual rollout | Expect import inspections & CBCA; budget extra clearance time. |
| DRC | National | Standards/Food | OCC Standards & Codex reliance | Food inspection | OCC control, weak exports | Ongoing | Capacity gaps | Importers: plan OCC inspections; exporters: self-assure quality. |
| Somalia | National | Standards | Somali Standards & Quality Act 2020 | Standards & CBCA | SoBS authority | 2020? | CBCA scaling | Confirm SoBS specs & CBCA before shipping. |
