TOLL FREE: (0800)133133
13th December , 2017 , Hits: 3050
Kampala, 13th December 2017 – The Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) has approved and declared a total of 254 standards as national standards, and 76 standards have been recommended to the minister of trade to declare them compulsory standards because they are of safety concerns for the consumers and the environment.
Speaking at the press briefing, the Executive Director Dr Ben Manyindo said, “A number of standards being approved are important for BUBU and support top government priorities such as Oil and Gas as well as in the area of Construction procurement, Agro inputs and Inspection of used motor vehicles.” He added that all these initiatives are aimed at building and encouraging the consumption of local content and boost local manufacturers to ensure that their products meet, not only Uganda but international standards as well.
Of the approved standards, 48 of them cover Management and Services, 111 standards cover chemicals and consumer products, 52 are for engineering and 43 are for Food and Agriculture sectors.
Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) is mandated to formulate national standards. Standards are developed through Technical Committees composed of experts drawn from academia, government, industry, consumer groups and civil society. Technical Committees are responsible for recommending Final Draft Uganda Standards (FDUS) to the National Standards Council (NSC) for approval and declaration as Uganda Standards.
Section 15 of the UNBS Act (Cap 327, as amended) provides that the NSC may declare standard specifications or codes of practices as national standards for use in Uganda. The NSC may also amend or revoke (withdraw) such declarations. In addition, Section 18 of the UNBS Act (Cap 327, as amended) provides that the NSC may recommend certain national standards for declaration as compulsory by the Minister responsible for trade.
The standards come at a time when Uganda is promoting locally manufactured products under the Buy Uganda, Build Uganda Policy. Under the policy, the UNBS is supporting Micro Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (MSMEs) to ensure that they meet the required standards.
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
Head Public Relations
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