29th March , 2022 HITS: 497
The Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) has launched the Edible Insects Standard, US 2146:2020 Edible Insects –Specification, in collaboration with Makerere University School of Food Technology, Nutrition and Bio-Systems Engineering (Food Science) with support from the International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE).
The standard is aimed at promoting safe consumption of edible insects which are harvested, processed and traded on the Ugandan Market, in line with the UNBS mandate of developing, promoting and enforcing standards in protection of public health and safety, and the environment against dangerous and sub-standard products.
During the launch, the UNBS Executive Director, Mr. David Livingstone Ebiru urged all traders of edible insects to seek UNBS certification to ensure safety of their products for public consumption.
“The quality assurance measures involve analysis of unwanted biological and chemical substances which may contaminate the insects during the process of harvesting, processing, packaging or transportation.” Mr. Ebiru added.
The Vice Chancellor of Makerere University, Professor Barnabas Nawangwe, thanked UNBS for partnering with the University to promote research in innovative products such as edible insects which require relevant standards to be in place in to facilitate commercialisation.
He further encouraged entrepreneurs to commercialize edible insects given their nutritional value and market opportunities both locally and internationally.
The standard, US 2146:2020 Edible Insects –Specification, specifies the requirements, sampling and test methods for edible insects which include Grasshoppers (Nsenene), White Ants, Termites, Crickets, among others.
Some of the standard requirements state that the edible insect, whether, whole or granulated or powder or paste and either fried or dried shall;
More details are in the standard which can be accessed from the UNBS website via https://webstore.unbs.go.ug .
Mr. Ebiru encouraged the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF) to consider promoting farming of Edible Insects in order to diversify the earning opportunities of farmers.
Besides the edible insects standard, UNBS also developed a standard for dried Insect products for compounding animal feeds, US 1712:2017 – Dried Insect Products for Compounding Animal Feeds –Specification, which guide farmers involved in Poultry and Fish Farming on how to use insects as alternative animal feed. The standard is available on the UNBS Website via https://webstore.unbs.go.ug .
The Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) continues to implement its mandate of ensuring consumer protection and fair trade in Uganda.
About UNBS
The Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) is a Government Agency responsible for the Developing, Promotion and Enforcing of National Standards in order to protect the Health and Safety of the Public and the Environment against Harmful and Sub-Standard Products.
For more Information, Please Contact us on:
Uganda National Bureau of Standards,
Plot 2 - 12, Bypass Link, Bweyogerere Industrial and Business Park,
P.O Box 6329 Kampala, Uganda.
Telephone: 256 417 333250
Toll Free Line: 0800133133
E-mail: info@unbs.go.ug / ed@unbs.go.ug
Website: www.unbs.go.ug
Courtesy Photo: Makerere University