Kenya has developed a final draft of the Animal Feed Standard – KS EAS 2075. The draft was developed in a Technical Working Group Workshop on Animal Feeds hosted by a partnership between  EAGC, Association of Kenya Feed Manufacturers (AKEFEMA) and the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS), with the support of the USAID- Kenya Crops and Dairy Market Systems (KCDMS).

The final draft follows a study on Dairy Animal Nutrition conducted by USAID-KCDMS early in 2019. The study, focusing on animal nutrition aspects of livestock, feeding and animal husbandry practices, identified gaps in the then animal feeds standards – KS 62: 2019. Later in the year, a revised and improved standard – KS EAS 2075, was gazetted to address the identified gaps in the previous standard.

However, gaps were still noted in the new standard. In 2020, USAID with the support of EAGC and AKEFEMA, began engagements with the Animal feeds Technical Committee(TC) , in which they established technical and implementation gaps.

EAGC then reached out to KEBS for the review of the Standard in 2020. Later in the year, the Director Livestock Production(KEBS) requested USAID KCDMS to support in the updating of the standard. In 2021, USAID engaged EAGC through a competitive process to review the standard. A small TC was the hosted to consult and propose a roadmap for the adoption by a larger TC. The larger TC hosted a technical Working group Workshop on Animal Feeds Standards between March 7^th and 11^th, in which the final draft – Kenya’s position was developed.

Kenya intends to domesticate the standard for implementation at the East Africa Community level in all partner states. To achieve this, the KEBS secretary to Animal Feeds TC will  submit the daft standard to EAC secretary for public review. The review process will be as follows:

• Participate in EAC regional harmonization meetings to review drafts for the standard
• Public review period (60 days) in respective EAC countries
• 2^nd Regional harmonization meeting to consider public review comments on the revised draft standard
• Regional Editing meeting
• Approval and gazettement process by EAC for domestication in all partners states

The review of the standard is expected to increase the quality of commercial feeds at farm level. This will in turn improve feed quality and boost the safety of animal-based foods. The review and adoption of the standard  will also improve traceability of animal feed allowing identification of producers of quality feed and offer dairy farmers the option of purchasing certified products.