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{
    "id": 1545412,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1545412/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 197,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Kathuri",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13590,
        "legal_name": "Murungi Kathuri",
        "slug": "murungi-kathuri"
    },
    "content": "Thank you, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir. I want to thank the two Senators who have contributed to this Report. They seem to know exactly what they are saying and the debates that you have been discussed at the ACP-EU summit. Sen. Mungatana raised a very valid point about the subscriptions to these regional or international parliaments. You remember we were to attend the OACPS Parliament in Benin in January this year but, the meeting was suspended because there were no finances. The countries that subscribed to OACPS and the European Union (EU) did not pay the subscription. So, it was very hard to finance that Parliamentary session. So, what Sen. Mungatana has raised is something that needs to be looked at by the member states so that we do not have hiccups in these meetings. Also, Sen. Kinyua has raised a very important point, especially on the benefits that the member states can get. Most of our products, especially agricultural products, find their markets in the European Union (EU). Sometimes, they decline to accept our products because of standards. They say we have over sprayed; we have used more pesticides or herbicides. These are the people who produce these herbicides and all these chemicals. They dump them in Africa but when we use them to produce our products, they decline. After have sold their chemicals here in Africa, we spray our crops and become very energetic. So, when we try to ship them back now so that they can utilize them, they decline our products and say we have overused the chemicals. They use us to get their money; to get the market for their industrial chemicals, but then when we sell to them, they start now blaming us. These double standards should be stopped. They should produce chemicals that have no effect to them, of course, so that when we farm with them, the products are acceptable; they should give us the basic standards, and the basic chemicals. These are the issues that we continue to converse. You remember also we have an issue where they said that areas that have been deforested, especially, you cannot plant coffee without at least affecting a few trees and there, or tea. Then, they have said that areas that have been deforested to produce those crops will be barred from exporting those agricultural products to the EU. So, these are the issues that are on the table for us to discuss at OECPS-EU Parliamentary sessions. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, with all these remarks, I beg to reply and because there is no quorum, I also defer the putting of the question--- The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Director, Hansard and AudioServices, Senate."
}