Final Draft East African Harmonized Standards approved for declaration as East African standards (EAS)

  11th May , 2017 ,       Hits: 3283

Press Statement : Arusha, 27 April 2017, 

104 Final Draft East African Harmonized Standards approved for declaration as East African standards (EAS) by the Council of Ministers in order to facilitate intra-regional trade.
The East African Standards Committee (EASC) - a statutory committee established by the SQMT Act to coordinate the development and implementation of the standardization activities in the region held its meeting in Arusha from 20-24th April 2017. The Ugandan delegation comprised of officials from Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS), the Dairy Development Authority (DDA), The National Drug Authority (NDA) and Britannia Allied industries representing the private sector. The EASC is composed of the Chief Executives of the National Standards Bodies and Metrology Institutions as well as other Government Ministries whose activities  impact trade and key private sector institutions.  
Highlights of the 20th EASC meeting include the following:
The approval by the EASC and recommendation to the Sectoral Committee on Trade, Industry, Finance and Investment(SCTIFI) 104 Final Draft East African Standards(FDEAS) for declaration as East African standards (EAS) by the Council of Ministers; 
The approved standards cover the key sectors of fish and fishery products, horticulture , paper and paper products, cement ,cosmetics, surface active agents and the cereals and pulses;
The approval of the priority technical committees for harmonization in 2017  2018 based on the national priorities with high potential for regional trade, address the Council and summit Directives as well the overall support towards the implementation of the Common Market Protocol in regards to the free movement of goods;
The approval of the 3rd Edition of the Principles and Procedures for the development and harmonization of the East African Standards to ensure the timely  and cost effective delivery of the East African Standards in line with the International Best Practices 
Consideration and the outcome of the peer assessment review of the product certification and inspection regimes in the different Partner States with the view to build confidence in each others administrative procedures in line with the International best practices as a way to reduce standards related NTBs ;
Approval of the subcommittee work plans highlighting areas of focus and budget requirements for 2017  2018;
Progress in the review of the SQMT Act 2006 amended as the Standardization, Accreditation and Conformity Assessment (SACA) Amendment Bill 2016, the new concerns raised and the proposal to hold the Technical Management Board (TMB) meeting hosted by Uganda by June 2017 to finalize the review process. 

The detailed report of the 20th EASC Meeting may be obtained from the office of the Executive Director UNBS.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
UGANDA NATIONAL BUREAU OF STANDARDS