UNBS gets tough on fake imports
Oct 30, 2007
THE Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) has been revitalised to enforce its mandate. Ricks Kayizzi talked to Dr. Terry Kahuma, the head of the body on its efforts to fight against fake goods flooding the market.
THE Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) has been revitalised to enforce its mandate. Ricks Kayizzi talked to Dr. Terry Kahuma, the head of the body on its efforts to fight against fake goods flooding the market.
QUESTION: How are you dealing with the increased number of fake goods on the market?
The first thing when we get such goods in someone’s possession is to take samples to see whether they comply with standards. If they don’t, we confiscate them. We work with the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) to advise us on appropriate modalities of destruction of particular fake products, and then undertake the process of prosecution of the culprits.
Under which laws do you prosecute the culprits?
We have the Uganda National Standards Act of 1993, the Weights and Measures Act of 1964 and the Import Inspection Regulations of 2002.
All these are, however, under review to make them more relevant.
How do you destroy the seized substandard products?
We write to NEMA to guide us on which methods to use. We also seek permission from Kampala City Council and the Police, after which a report is written.
The most applied destruction method is the land-fill method, provided they are not metallic or poisonous to the environment.
How successful is ‘Operation Q?’
It has been successful in seizing non-compliant products. We are making it more effective.
What is your comment on the importation of Tiger Head batteries?
We recommended a ban on the importation of Tiger Head batteries because of their poor and irregular quality characteristics, and environmental unsuitability after use.
Currently, there is restricted importation by the Government-approved importers, with quality assurance offered by the manufacturers and Chinese inspectorate agencies.
This is to clear stock that was already ordered before the ban.
Do you think involving consumers directly would help your fight against fake products?
The best strategy has been to deal closely with
the Kampala City Traders Association (KACITA), the biggest umbrella of traders.
KACITA officials sit on our “shoddy†goods committee, and also facilitate our regulatory work during operations. We also hold sensitisation workshops for traders. We also have an interface with stakeholders who have undergone our product certification scheme. We also hold annual quality galas.
Has the Government done enough to activate the anti-dumping laws to protect the locals from exploitation?
Some work has been done but more can still be done to ensure that people are not duped into consuming substandard products.
The public feels that you are an urban-based organisation?
That is not true. We have five regional offices carrying out weights and measures-related work activities conducted at headquarters.
These include laboratory testing and ‘Operation Q.’ These regional offices carry out work on programmes that we announce and cover every part of the region at least twice a year. They communicate with us on collection of samples, reporting of fake products and participation in seminars organised by headquarters.
QUESTION: How are you dealing with the increased number of fake goods on the market?
The first thing when we get such goods in someone’s possession is to take samples to see whether they comply with standards. If they don’t, we confiscate them. We work with the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) to advise us on appropriate modalities of destruction of particular fake products, and then undertake the process of prosecution of the culprits.
Under which laws do you prosecute the culprits?
We have the Uganda National Standards Act of 1993, the Weights and Measures Act of 1964 and the Import Inspection Regulations of 2002.
All these are, however, under review to make them more relevant.
How do you destroy the seized substandard products?
We write to NEMA to guide us on which methods to use. We also seek permission from Kampala City Council and the Police, after which a report is written.
The most applied destruction method is the land-fill method, provided they are not metallic or poisonous to the environment.
How successful is ‘Operation Q?’
It has been successful in seizing non-compliant products. We are making it more effective.
What is your comment on the importation of Tiger Head batteries?
We recommended a ban on the importation of Tiger Head batteries because of their poor and irregular quality characteristics, and environmental unsuitability after use.
Currently, there is restricted importation by the Government-approved importers, with quality assurance offered by the manufacturers and Chinese inspectorate agencies.
This is to clear stock that was already ordered before the ban.
Do you think involving consumers directly would help your fight against fake products?
The best strategy has been to deal closely with
the Kampala City Traders Association (KACITA), the biggest umbrella of traders.
KACITA officials sit on our “shoddy†goods committee, and also facilitate our regulatory work during operations. We also hold sensitisation workshops for traders. We also have an interface with stakeholders who have undergone our product certification scheme. We also hold annual quality galas.
Has the Government done enough to activate the anti-dumping laws to protect the locals from exploitation?
Some work has been done but more can still be done to ensure that people are not duped into consuming substandard products.
The public feels that you are an urban-based organisation?
That is not true. We have five regional offices carrying out weights and measures-related work activities conducted at headquarters.
These include laboratory testing and ‘Operation Q.’ These regional offices carry out work on programmes that we announce and cover every part of the region at least twice a year. They communicate with us on collection of samples, reporting of fake products and participation in seminars organised by headquarters.