Register as a seed merchant, seed grower or seed seller (KEPHIS)
Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service · sources read 2 Oct 2026
To produce, process or market seed you must register with KEPHIS as a seed merchant (new registration KSh 75,000). Seed growers and seed sellers (agents, sub-agents, stockists) also register or get a licence from KEPHIS.
- Fee
- KSh 75,000Seed merchant registration (new)KSh 10,000Seed merchant registration (renewal)KSh 500Seed grower registration (new)KSh 300Seed grower registration (renewal)KSh 30,000Seed seller licence: agent (new)KSh 10,000Seed seller licence: sub-agent (new)KSh 1,500Seed seller licence: stockist (new)
- How long
- About 30 days for seed merchant registration
- Where
- KEPHIS Headquarters, Oloolua Ridge, Karen, Nairobi, or KEPHIS regional offices in Mombasa, Nakuru and Kitale
What you need
- Seed merchant: filled form SR 1, certificate of incorporation, KRA PIN certificate and directors' ID documents
- Seed grower: filled form SR 3, and an agreement (MoU) with a seed company where applicable
- Seed seller: filled form SR 12, a letter from the seed merchant you sell for, and an approval letter from the County Agricultural Committee
Steps
- Download the right form from KEPHIS 'Forms & Guidelines': SR 1 for a seed merchant, SR 12 for a seed seller's licence.
- Hand in the filled form with your documents at a KEPHIS office and pay the fee.
- Once registered, a seed merchant registers each seed field for inspection (form SR 5) with proof of where the parent seed came from.
- After field inspection, processing and lab testing, each seed lot that passes gets a KEPHIS label and seal.
Watch out
- Only registered seed merchants may import or export seed.
- A seed seller needs an appointment letter from a registered seed merchant and a recommendation from the County Agriculture office before applying.
- Inspections away from KEPHIS offices can cost extra, including transport at KSh 90.55 per km.
Who can apply
- Seed merchant: a person or institution that produces, processes and markets seed
- Seed grower: a person or institution that grows seed crops, usually working with a registered seed merchant
- Seed seller (agro-dealer): a person or business that sells tested and certified seed
Official sources (5)
- Seed Certification Services kephis.go.ke · read 2 Oct 2026
- Forms & Guidelines kephis.go.ke · read 2 Oct 2026
- Form SR 12: Application for a Seed Seller's Licence (PDF) kephis.go.ke · read 2 Oct 2026
- Form SR 1: Application for Registration as a Seed Merchant (PDF) kephis.go.ke · read 2 Oct 2026
- KEPHIS Service Charter (Revision 08 Issue 01, English PDF) kephis.go.ke · read 2 Oct 2026