Food export law lacking
Mar 02, 2006
UGANDA lacks relevant food laws to streamline the activities of food products exported to the European Union (EU) and other developed markets, the sector stakeholders said recently.
By Charles Bwogi
UGANDA lacks relevant food laws to streamline the activities of food products exported to the European Union (EU) and other developed markets, the sector stakeholders said recently.
Meeting at Grand Imperial Hotel, the stakeholders said a strong food monitoring body, and laboratories for testing and analysis, were lacking.
Last year Uganda exported 35,000 tonnes of fish fillets earning sh255b.
Other major food related products are coffee, tea, fruits and vegetables.
The meeting was organised by the United Nations Industrial Trade Organisation (UNIDO).
Dr. Abdul Ndifuna of Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) said, due to under funding in the past, his organisation had little capacity to do the needed inspection and surveys.
“However, there has been budget boost this finance year.
We are building our human resource.
We are increasing those on market surveillance from two to six.
We are also monitoring most parts in the country,†Ndifuna said.
Participants feared that Uganda could lose its niche in the EU market to other organised exporters.
UGANDA lacks relevant food laws to streamline the activities of food products exported to the European Union (EU) and other developed markets, the sector stakeholders said recently.
Meeting at Grand Imperial Hotel, the stakeholders said a strong food monitoring body, and laboratories for testing and analysis, were lacking.
Last year Uganda exported 35,000 tonnes of fish fillets earning sh255b.
Other major food related products are coffee, tea, fruits and vegetables.
The meeting was organised by the United Nations Industrial Trade Organisation (UNIDO).
Dr. Abdul Ndifuna of Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) said, due to under funding in the past, his organisation had little capacity to do the needed inspection and surveys.
“However, there has been budget boost this finance year.
We are building our human resource.
We are increasing those on market surveillance from two to six.
We are also monitoring most parts in the country,†Ndifuna said.
Participants feared that Uganda could lose its niche in the EU market to other organised exporters.