UNBS signs MoU with butchers to Improve quality of meat products

  12th September , 2017 ,       Hits: 3105

Kampala, 12^th September, 2017 – The Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) has signed a memorandum of understanding with Kampala Butchers and Traders Association (KABUTA) to improve quality of meat products and ensure compliance to the food safety standards.

The signing took place at UNBS Head Office between the UNBS Executive Director, Dr. Ben Manyindo and the KABUTA Chairman, Al Hajji Musa Ssenabulya.

Dr. Manyindo said, “The MoU is good opportunity for UNBS to work with established industry association to coordinate the development of standards and codes of practice relevant for improving the quality and safety of meat and meat products”.

According to the MoU, UNBS will promote value addition in the industry by creating awareness on requirements and procedures for product and food safety among the KABUTA members, providing testing services for evaluating the quality and safety of products for conformity to relevant standards.

The MoU also provides cooperation on weights and measures requirements, training and certification of the butchers. “UNBS will involve members of KABUTA in the development of meat standards and support them to undertake training on standards implementation and record keeping,” Dr. Manyindo said.

Uganda in the past faced challenges in accessing international markets due to poor quality of meat and meat products. However, the cooperation between UNBS and KABUTA will improve standards in the industry thus improving trade in meat and related products.

UNBS will also coordinate harmonization and implementation of standards in meat and meat products in the region and benchmark with international standards to prevent technical barriers to trade for products.

Al Hajji Ssenabulya said the signing of the MoU comes at an opportune time when Kabuta is looking to improving standards among meat butchers and traders. “The MoU will allow us to work with UNBS to ensure that our members to comply with Industry standards including UNBS requirements on weights and measures which will improve quality and competitiveness of our products,” said Al Hajji Ssenabulya.

“We shall use our association to mobilize our members and work with UNBS to create awareness on food safety and certification requirements”, he added.

About UNBS

The Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) is a statutory body responsible for developing and promoting standards and quality of products and services to facilitate fair trade, promote local industries and protect consumers.

For more information, please contact:

Godwin Bonge Muhwezi

Principal Public Relations Officer

Uganda National Bureau of Standards

Bweyogerere Industrial Park,

Plot 2 - 12, Kyaliwajala Road,

P.O Box 6329 Kampala, Uganda

Tel: 0700930996

e-mail: godwin.muhwezi@unbs.go.ug

Website: www.unbs.go.ug