Under Clause 2 section (1) (f) of the UNBS Act of 1983, UNBS is mandated to enforce standards in protection of the public against harmful, dangerous and
substandard products, while under Clause 20 of the
Act , there is a legal obligation for anybody not to manufacture, sell, distribute or hold for the purpose of selling any product that does not meet compulsory Uganda standards.

UNBS has overtime been receiving complaints from members of the public and the business community as well as consumer organisations regarding goods and commodities that are substandard. Some of these commodities can be hazardous
to the people and their property and even the environment.

Pursuant to the above clauses Uganda National Bureau of Standards put in place measures to curb the proliferation of these substandard products that can endanger public health and safety.

One of the measures put in place to curb these products from the market was to launch a market surveillance exercise code-named Operation Q.

Operation Q was launched to survey the market including major shop outlets and identify traders selling expired, underweight, adulterated and counterfeit
consumer goods, as well as manufacturers and distributors of fake and substandard products. A team was set up which in collaboration with police and other enforcement agencies, surveys the market including major shop outlets, supermarkets and go-downs and takes action on the culprits. Such measures include impounding of the substandard goods and prosecution of the people and companies involved.Where necessary journalists are called in to witness operations and publicise the findings.

The targeted products are those where there has been much outcry from the public and which endanger peoples lives and property and include Cement , Electrical conduits , mosquito nets, Bread and other confectionery , and Expired foods and drinks.

A hotline telephone number 0414- 380502 is available to the public for anyone with information about substandard products to report in confidence to UNBS. UNBS calls upon the public to volunteer information on
whoever is engaged in selling or manufacturing of dangerous, substandard, shoddy and expired products.