UNBS seizes IDP food donations
May 01, 2006
UGANDA National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) has seized 18 metric tonnes of canned Irish potatoes destined for the internally displaced peoples’ (IDP) camps in northern Uganda.
By Doreen Kansiime
UGANDA National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) has seized 18 metric tonnes of canned Irish potatoes destined for the internally displaced peoples’ (IDP) camps in northern Uganda.
This was after the import inspection discovered that “the Allens Butterfield whole new potatoes,†a donation from the World Emergency Relief-UK, through the All Nations Christian Care in Lira, were expired.
“The canned Irish potatoes showed no expiry dates and the ones which showed the dates had different dates showing below the sealed paper. That is illegal,†Gyaviira Musoke, the head of UNBS’ import inspection division, said.
Musoke said the expiry dates were hidden and not legible, adding that on scrutiny, the products’ expiry date was October 2005, August 2004 and August 2003.
He said they had written to All Nations Christian Care’s executive director about the issue.
Musoke said the letter was also addressed to the assistant commissioner for investigations at Uganda Revenue Authority and the executive director of the National Environmental Management Authority.
“According to our regulations, the importer will be required to re-export these expired goods to the country of origin or destroy them under our supervision,†he said.
UNBS also seized 111 cartons of expired Refreshment toothpaste from the same organisation with dates showing the expiry date as November 2006 covering the original dates of 2002.
Ends
UGANDA National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) has seized 18 metric tonnes of canned Irish potatoes destined for the internally displaced peoples’ (IDP) camps in northern Uganda.
This was after the import inspection discovered that “the Allens Butterfield whole new potatoes,†a donation from the World Emergency Relief-UK, through the All Nations Christian Care in Lira, were expired.
“The canned Irish potatoes showed no expiry dates and the ones which showed the dates had different dates showing below the sealed paper. That is illegal,†Gyaviira Musoke, the head of UNBS’ import inspection division, said.
Musoke said the expiry dates were hidden and not legible, adding that on scrutiny, the products’ expiry date was October 2005, August 2004 and August 2003.
He said they had written to All Nations Christian Care’s executive director about the issue.
Musoke said the letter was also addressed to the assistant commissioner for investigations at Uganda Revenue Authority and the executive director of the National Environmental Management Authority.
“According to our regulations, the importer will be required to re-export these expired goods to the country of origin or destroy them under our supervision,†he said.
UNBS also seized 111 cartons of expired Refreshment toothpaste from the same organisation with dates showing the expiry date as November 2006 covering the original dates of 2002.
Ends