Navigating EAC & AfCFTA Trade Protocols for Agroecological Producers and Traders

Cross-border trade of agroecological produce in East Africa is a lifeline for smallholder farmers, women, and youth-led cooperatives. Yet complex customs rules, non-tariff barriers (NTBs), and a lack of regulatory knowledge keep many traders informal, vulnerable to exploitation, and excluded from premium markets.

• Agriculture contributes 30–40% of GDP in most EAC Partner States and employs 80% of the population, yet over 60% of smallholder trade remains informal (AFSA Border Trade Study, 2024).
• Informal traders, often women and youth, face multiple levies, confiscation risks, and harassment because they lack explicit knowledge of the Simplified Trade Regime (STR), Rules of Origin (RoO), and SPS/TBT compliance.
• The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and EAC integration aim to reduce tariffs and barriers, but benefits reach only those who can navigate the system.

This brief simplifies the most important regional trade rules so you can reduce costs, avoid penalties, and move your agroecological products safely and profitably across borders.

A. East African Community Simplified Trade Regime (STR)

• Legal basis: EAC Customs Union Protocol (2005) & STR Implementing Guidelines (updated 2018).
• Purpose: Allows small consignments (≤ USD 2,000) to use simplified procedures instead of full customs clearance.
• Benefits:
  • Minimal paperwork – one-page Simplified Certificate of Origin (SCO).
  • Lower costs and faster border clearance.
  • Protection from informal levies.
• Steps to Use STR:
  • Confirm your product is on the EAC STR Common List (available from customs offices or www.eac.int).
  • Complete the Simplified Certificate of Origin (issued by customs).
  • Present your national ID/passport and the SCO at the border.
  • Pay duties if applicable (many goods are zero-rated).
• ⚠️ Tip: If an official asks for unnecessary extra forms or levies, politely refer to the STR Guidelines (Art. 2–4).

B. Rules of Origin (RoO)

• Purpose: Define when a product is considered of EAC or AfCFTA origin and eligible for preferential tariff treatment.
• Key principles for agroecological produce:
  • Crops wholly obtained (grown or harvested) in an EAC Partner State qualify as originating.
  • Basic processing (drying, sorting, packaging) is acceptable; just repacking imported produce is not.
  • Mixed inputs: If using imported seeds/fertiliser, your crop still qualifies if grown locally.
• Reference:
  • EAC Customs Union Rules of Origin (2005, revised 2015).
  • AfCFTA Annexe 2 – Rules of Origin.

C. Non-Tariff Barriers (NTBs)

• What they are: Unofficial restrictions such as excessive fees, long clearance times, illegal roadblocks, and multiple permits.
• Your recourse:
  • Report via the EAC NTB Online Reporting System: www.tradebarriers.org or SMS to national NTB desks.
  • Escalate unresolved cases to your National Trade Facilitation Committee (NTFC) or Ministry of Trade.
• Legal reference:
  • EAC Elimination of NTBs Act, 2017.
  • AfCFTA Annexe 5 on NTBs.
• ⚠️ Tip: Keep receipts, photos, and dates of harassment to support your NTB case.

D. Sanitary & Phytosanitary (SPS) and Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT)

• Purpose: Protect human, plant, and animal health and ensure product quality.
• Standard SPS requirements: Phytosanitary certificate, fumigation proof, and organic certification (if applicable).
• TBT aspects: Labelling requirements, packaging standards, traceability codes.
• Reference:
  • WTO SPS & TBT Agreements.
  • EAC SPS Protocol (2013).
  • AfCFTA Annexes 7 & 8 (SPS and TBT).
• ⚠️ Tip: Request SPS certificates early from your national plant health or food safety authority (e.g., KEBS in Kenya, TBS in Tanzania, UNBS in Uganda).

E. AfCFTA Protocol on Women & Youth in Trade

• Adopted: February 2023 (AU Assembly).
• Goal: Empower women & youth to trade formally by reducing barriers, improving financial access, and enhancing representation.
• Opportunities for traders:
  • Preferential training & finance programmes.
  • Inclusion in national AfCFTA implementation committees.
  • Recognition of women/youth cooperatives as key value chain actors.

• Access: [EAC-ATKH portal – under development with AFSA & trapca]
• Key features will include:
  • STR and RoO guides (downloadable PDFs).
  • Real-time market prices & demand maps for agroecological products.
  • NTB reporting links and country focal points.
  • SPS/TBT compliance templates and video explainers.
  • Trader forums & WhatsApp groups for peer advice.

⚡ Action: Bookmark the platform on your phone, download offline PDFs, and share with your cooperative.

In 2024, over 41,000 MT of bananas were traded from Kenya to Tanzania informally (AFSA, 2024).

Small traders faced unofficial levies and delays due to confusion on STR and RoO.

• Traders formed a Banana Traders Association.
• Received STR and RoO training via local CSOs.
• Clearance time dropped from 2 days → 4 hours, and informal fees fell by 35%.
• More members now trade formally and qualify for tariff preferences.

• Join cooperatives/trader associations – collective bargaining and easier NTB reporting.
• Engage NTFCs and border user committees – they influence national trade facilitation reforms.
• Document cases – photos, receipts, or delays- to help escalate issues.
• Use AfCFTA Women & Youth Trade Networks to lobby for fair treatment.
• Partner with local CSOs (e.g., AFSA members) for legal support and policy advocacy.

• EAC Simplified Trade Regime (STR) Guidelines, 2018 – EAC Official Portal
• EAC Elimination of NTBs Act, 2017 – www.tradebarriers.org
• EAC Customs Union Rules of Origin, 2015 Revision – Download PDF
• AfCFTA Agreement & Annexes (Goods, SPS, TBT, NTBs, Women & Youth Protocol) – www.afcfta.au.int
• WTO SPS & TBT Agreements – www.wto.org
• AFSA Cross-Border Agroecological Trade Study, 2024 – contact AFSA secretariat for copy
• EAC-ATKH (beta launch) – [link TBC]