Special-Report_Doing-Business-in-Uganda-East-Africa-and-Beyond_East-African-Business-Week_Trade-Report Mar. 2015

xii SPECIAL REPORT East African Business Week I February 23 -March 1, 2015 MINISTRY OF TRADE, INDUSTRY AND COOPERATIVES Doing Business in Uganda, East Africa & beyond East African Business Week I February 23 - March 1, 2015 Standards bureau facilitates business  The Uganda Bureau of Standards (UNBS) has been at the forefront of ensuring that quality and high standard goods are traded on the Ugandan market. This is its statutory mandate and a pivotal cornerstone for sustaining higher levels of trade. In an interview, Ben Manyindo, the UNBS Executive Director elaborates. Below are excerpts; How does UNBS facilitate trade? What is your role? 1. UNBS has to develop or adopt standards of commonly traded goods to ease on compliance to quality standards. Over 2100 Uganda standards are available for use. 2.For manufacturers, UNBS ensures that products made within the country meet relevant standards through inspection, sampling, testing and certification. 3. For traders/importers a new program requiring that goods are inspected and given a certificate of conformity in the country of export known as PVOC program allows the importer faster clearance of their goods and assurance of quality at point of destination. On-line clearance is in offing using the UNBS E-portal. How has the lack of standards harmonization affected your operations and trade in general? tion, Quality Assurance, Meteorology and Testing Act of recognition of quality marks. All Ugandan products that possess the UNBS quality mark are accepted in EAC countries without having to undergo testing again. So Ugandan standards are acceptable within the EAC region and outside. How are you helping manufacturers & service providers among others to adhere to these standards? The East African Community and Common Market for Eastern and Southern African (COMESA) regional harmonization of standards is an on-going process. A work programme was agreed on starting with the most traded goods to facilitate intraregional trade. Over 1200 EAC harmonized standards are available for use. At EAC, the harmonization exercise is being facilitated by TradeMark East Africa and other development partners. How widely accepted are UNBS standards? There is a requirement under the EAC Standardisa- Uganda exports mainly food and agricultural products that require adherence to highest safety and quality standards. Exporters have to obtain the necessary quality assurance certification from competent authorities. Because of the lucrative nature of the business, some traders want to take shortcuts and avoid the cost of inspection, testing and certification. UNBS together with other agencies of Government provide the necessary technical requirements and information including training in quality standards and other requirements. What are some of your achievemnets in last 25 years? The achievements registered are: •The number of staff has grown in numbers and professionally in the areas of standardization. With the current staff strength at 240, UNBS is able to offer its services in standards development, laboratory testing, certification, training and consultancy, imports inspection and metrology •The number of Uganda standards that have been developed to facilitate trade as well as regulation has increased to 2,376 as of November 2014. • Increased stakeholder engagement has informed our internal process and service delivery, ensuring that the business community is compliant to set standards • The Pre-Export Verification of Conformity to standards (PVOC) has been successfully established, thus reducing on importation of substandard goods by 20-30% to date. •The work environment for staff continues to improve by constructing a new office block (Standards House) and soon will embark on construction of laboratories through Government financing. • UNBS Act 1983 was amended to align it with current regional and international requirements and practices. •The completion of construction of the UNBS home (Phase 1A - shell structure) that was completed and handed over in April 2013. All these achievements are aimed at facilitating trade. UGANDA NATIONAL BUREAU OF STANDARDS UNBS mandate: Develop and Promote Standardisation, Quality Assurance, Laboratory Testing, and Metrology to Enhance the Competitiveness of Local Industry, protect the consumers and to promote Quality, Safety and Fair Trade. Obtain more details from our website www.unbs.go.ug QUALITY INFRASTRUCTURE AT UNBS: This is the standards, quality assurance, metrology and testing that is required for inspection, testing and certiﬁcation of products to access local, regional and international markets. More than 2100 Uganda standards are available at Standards House, Bweyogerere in the areas of food and agriculture, engineering and building materials, chemicals and consumer products, and management services. Some of these are harmonised East African standards of most traded goods to facilitate intra-regional trade. Testing laboratories at Nakawa are being strengthened to meet the increasing demand of business community; while manufacturers seeking for certiﬁcation have increased. If you are sure of your product, get it certiﬁed by UNBS. Our certiﬁcation team at Standards House will guide you.  IMPORTERS: Your business is regulated under UNBS Import Inspection regulation. Get your products inspected in the country of export and obtain a certiﬁcate of conformity to standards. Approach the appointed ofﬁces of SGS, Intertek, Bureau Veritas, and for used motor vehicles, JEVIC, East Africa Automobile, Jabal Kilimanjaro. Non compliance attracts a 15% CIF value penalty before destination inspection is undertaken. With a certiﬁcate of compliance your goods are veriﬁed and cleared instantly.  MANUFACTURERS: Your business is regulated under the UNBS Act. Approach any of UNBS ofﬁces to have your business registered, your products inspected, tested and certiﬁed. The S- mark or Q-mark is an assurance that your products are safe and meets relevant Uganda Standards. Ensure your equipment is calibrated every year before certiﬁcation. Do not miss the Quality Gala 2015 scheduled for 20th November 2015  CONSUMERS: value your life, property and money. Demand for safe, quality products and report to UNBS any suspicious product that appears substandard, being sold when expired, being adulterated or repackaged without authority. Use the toll free telephone line of 0800 133133. Buy only from known suppliers and not hawkers. UNBS is enhancing consumer education and public awareness on quality and standards  TRADERS: The law prohibits sale of substandard goods i.e. No person shall import, distribute, manufacture, sell or have in his possession or control for sale or distribution any commodity for which a compulsory standard speciﬁcation has been declared unless such commodity conforms to the compulsory standard speciﬁcation. Ensure UNBS team has veriﬁed your weighing and measuring equipment including fuel pumps, road tankers and bulk measures.

Special-Report_Doing-Business-in-Uganda-East-Africa-and-Beyond_East-African-Business-Week_Trade-Report Mar. 2015 | Page 12