Moshi. The Tanzania Coffee Board (TCB) has embarked on an initiative that seeks to protect its access to the European Union (EU) coffee market by launching a comprehensive registration of all coffee farmers across the country.
The initiative comes in response to new EU regulations requiring that coffee imported into Europe must be produced without contributing to environmental degradation.
The new law, introduced by the EU, mandates that coffee imports must not contribute to environmental degradation, a requirement that Tanzania, a major coffee exporter, must meet.
The EU Regulations on Deforestation-Free Products (EUDR) that entered into force on June 29, 2023, require coffee placed or made available on the EU market or exported from it as of Dec 30, 2024 to be produced on land that was not deforested after Dec 31, 2020, and in accordance with relevant national local legislations.
For this purpose, each coffee producing country needs to submit a Due Diligence statement and corresponding geolocation data for all plots of land where coffee was produced.
Several countries have expressed concern that they have both financial and technical challenges to roll out the traceability system of coffee in compliance with the EUDR.
Importers of coffee have threatened to halt existing contracts and not enter new ones for non-compliance, which can have negative consequences to farmers.
Speaking in Moshi on Saturday September 7, 2024, TCB director general, Mr Primus Kimaryo, said the registration process would commence in September and run through to January 2025.
According to him, the registration seeks to ensure that all coffee farms are officially recognised and that their operations are environmentally sustainable.
“We will start the registration in Kagera, which produces over 40 percent of Tanzania’s coffee, and then extend it to the other 16 coffee-producing regions. Every farmer will be registered by providing their identification, having their photo taken, and documenting their farm and its coffee production history,” Mr Kimaryo told reporters.
The European Union accounts for about 50 percent of Tanzania’s coffee exports, making compliance with the new environmental regulation crucial for maintaining the market.
“To continue accessing the EU market, we must ensure our coffee is not linked to environmental degradation,” Mr Kimaryo emphasised.
Tanzania Coffee Board (TCB) Director General Mr. Primus Kimaryo speaking to reporters on Saturday, September 7, 2024, in Moshi. PHOTO | JANETH JOSEPH
Beyond coffee, the EU’s new regulations also apply to other commodities like timber, rubber, palm oil, and cocoa.
Mr Kimaryo stressed that all coffee farmers must be registered as part of efforts to demonstrate that Tanzania’s coffee production does not contribute to deforestation or environmental damage.
To fast-track the registration process, Mr Kimaryo called for cooperation from local councils in coffee-growing regions, urging them to assist in ensuring that all farmers are documented before the January 2025 deadline.
He said this was necessary to meet EU certification requirements for products imported from Tanzania.
“We have limited time to ensure all farmers are registered and that we have sufficient documentation to prove that our coffee and other agricultural produces are produced in an environmentally responsible manner. I urge farmers to cooperate fully so we can complete this crucial task and continue accessing the EU market,” Mr Kimaryo said.
He also said that the Ministry of Agriculture is in ongoing discussions with the EU on other relevant issues, including the use of pesticides, seed availability, and farming practices.
Mr Kimaryo highlighted that the registration process will involve collaboration between the government and other stakeholders, including agricultural officers, cooperative officers, and university students. He affirmed that the government is committed to using its systems to ensure the registration is done efficiently and in time.
The TCB’s registration initiative comes at a critical time, as global markets increasingly demand sustainability and accountability in agricultural production.
The success of this process will not only safeguard Tanzania’s access to the EU market but also contribute to a greener, more sustainable coffee industry.
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Air Tanzania Banned From EU Airspace Due to Safety Concerns
Several airports have since locked Air Tanzania, dealing a severe blow to the Tanzanian national carrier that must now work overtime to regain its certification or go the wet lease way
The European Commission has announced the inclusion of Air Tanzania on the EU Air Safety List, effectively banning the airline from operating in European airspace.
The decision, made public on December 16, 2024, is based on safety concerns identified by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which also led to the denial of Air Tanzania’s application for a Third Country Operator (TCO) authorisation.
The Commission did not go into the specifics of the safety infringement but industry experts suggest it is possible that the airline could have flown its Airbus A220 well past its scheduled major checks, thus violating the airworthiness directives.
“The decision to include Air Tanzania in the EU Air Safety List underscores our unwavering commitment to ensuring the highest safety standards for passengers in Europe and worldwide,” said Apostolos Tzitzikostas, EU Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism.
“We strongly urge Air Tanzania to take swift and decisive action to address these safety issues. I have offered the Commission’s assistance to the Tanzanian authorities in enhancing Air Tanzania’s safety performance and achieving full compliance with international aviation standards.”
Air Tanzania has a mixed fleet of modern aircraft types including Boeing 787s, 737 Max jets, and Airbus A220s.
It has been flying the B787 Dreamliner to European destinations like Frankfurt in Germany and Athens in Greece and was looking to add London to its growing list with the A220.
But the ban not only scuppers the London dream but also has seen immediate ripple effect, with several airports – including regional like Kigali and continental – locking out Air Tanzania.
Tanzania operates KLM alongside the national carrier.
The European Commission said Air Tanzania may be permitted to exercise traffic rights by using wet-leased aircraft of an air carrier which is not subject to an operating ban, provided that the relevant safety standards are complied with.
A wet lease is where an airline pays to use an aircraft with a crew, fuel, and insurance all provided by the leasing company at a fee.
Two more to the list
The EU Air Safety List, maintained to ensure passenger safety, is updated periodically based on recommendations from the EU Air Safety Committee.
The latest revision, which followed a meeting of aviation safety experts in Brussels from November 19 to 21, 2024, now includes 129 airlines.
Of these, 100 are certified in 15 states where aviation oversight is deemed insufficient, and 29 are individual airlines with significant safety deficiencies.
Alongside Air Tanzania, other banned carriers include Air Zimbabwe (Zimbabwe), Avior Airlines (Venezuela), and Iran Aseman Airlines (Iran).
Commenting on the broader implications of the list, Tzitzikostas stated, “Our priority remains the safety of every traveler who relies on air transport. We urge all affected airlines to take these bans seriously and work collaboratively with international bodies to resolve the identified issues.”
In a positive development, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has been cleared to resume operations in the EU following a four-year suspension. The ban, which began in 2020, was lifted after substantial improvements in safety performance and oversight by PIA and the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA).
“Since the TCO Authorisation was suspended, PIA and PCAA have made remarkable progress in enhancing safety standards,” noted Tzitzikostas. “This demonstrates that safety issues can be resolved through determination and cooperation.”
Another Pakistani airline, Airblue Limited, has also received EASA’s TCO authorisation.
Decisions to include or exclude airlines from the EU Air Safety List are based on rigorous evaluations of international safety standards, particularly those established by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).
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The process involves thorough review and consultation among EU Member State aviation safety experts, with oversight from the European Commission and support from EASA.
“Where an airline currently on the list believes it complies with the required safety standards, it can request a reassessment,” explained Tzitzikostas. “Our goal is not to penalize but to ensure safety compliance globally.”
Airlines listed on the EU Air Safety List face significant challenges to their international operations, as the bans highlight shortcomings in safety oversight by their home regulatory authorities.
For Air Tanzania, this inclusion signals an urgent need for reform within Tanzania’s aviation sector to address these deficiencies and align with global standards.
The path forward will require immediate and sustained efforts to rectify safety concerns and regain access to one of the world’s most critical aviation markets.
Source: allafrica.com
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