The Kenya Dairy Board suspended proposed regulations that had been in the works after industry stakeholders raised concern.
In a statement, the board noted some comments made through various media outlets were misinterpretations of facts and intentions of the regulations.
"The Kenya Dairy Board wishes to inform all stakeholders, that the processing of the proposed regulations has been suspended to allow for consultations and further public participation," read a statement by the Board.
The regulations, described as offensive by a section of industry players, civil society organisations and political leaders, provided that a person shall not sell, offer for sale or expose for consumption, any milk in raw form.
"No person shall operate as a producer unless the person holds a licence issued by the Board," reads a section of the proposed regulations.
Currently, farmers sell their milk in raw form to supplement their earnings, creating employment for distributors.
Milk processors also decried that the draft regulations were aimed at increasing the cost of production.
Kenya Dairy Processors Association (KDPA) Chair Nixon Sigey protested that the dairy industry would become uncompetitive.
He disclosed that KDPA was working on expanding the market to other countries in the region and that high cost of production, which might result from the draft regulations, will hamper the move.
“We want to protect Kenyans from the high cost of milk as well as ensure that our products can access the international market at competitive rates,” he explained.
