Get tough on counterfeit goods, FDC asks govt

By Moses Walubiri & Mayimunah Namulemo

The recent traders’ strike over inspection of goods prior to importation will not be the last antagonism between the government and the business community over substandard and counterfeit goods unless a robust legal regime is put in place to stem what Christopher Kibanzanga has described as the “danger of turning Uganda into the world’s dumping ground for counterfeits.”

The traders called off the strike on Saturday after the government agreed to suspend the Pre-import Verification of the Conformity to Standards program (PIVOC) as traders and ministry of trade wrangled over who to foot the inspection bills.

Trade minister Amelia Kyambade told parliament last week that PIVOC was intended to safe guard the health and safety of consumers from substandard and counterfeit goods.

However, former Busongora South MP Christopher Kibanzanga told journalists at FDC headquarters that only the Anti-Counterfeit Bill 2010 that is under consideration by parliament will decisively address the problem of counterfeits.

“Without a robust legal regime to combat substandard and counterfeit goods, government is fighting a losing battle even if goods are inspected before importation. The people flooding this country are smarter and will need a deterrent law to counter them,” Kibanzanga said.

Kibanzanga also noted that in order to discourage substandard goods and encourage good quality goods, contracted inspection firms should charge less fee on high quality goods in percentage terms than on substandard goods.

PIVOC was initially rolled out by ministry of trade in 2010 but it was shelved shortly after in order to have it streamlined.

With Uganda joining the East African common market, there are fears that saturation of the Ugandan market with counterfeits will hamstring the country’s competitiveness under the budding trade arrangement.