Uganda National Bureau of Standards

Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) would like to inform the general public and business community in particular, that a programme to have goods inspected in the country of origin has been put in place by Government.

The programme is intended to substantially reduce substandard imported products onto the Ugandan market.

Section 3(e) of UNBS Act Cap 327 mandates UNBS to “Require certain products to comply with certain standards in manufacture, composition, treatment or performance and to prohibit substandard goods where necessary.”

Within this mandate this revised programme of having goods inspected in the country of origin before shipment is known as Pre-Export Verification of Conformity (PVoC).

The categories of high risk goods to be inspected before shipment include the following:

• Group I Toys

• Group II Electrical and electronics including solar equipment

• Group III Automotive products and inputs

• Group IV Chemical products

• Group V Mechanical materials and gas appliances

• Group VI Textile, leather, plastic and rubber products

• Group VII Furniture (wood and metal articles)

• Group VIII Paper and stationery

• Group IX Protective safety equipment

• Group X Food and food products

• Group XI Used products including used motor vehicles

The business community is urged to obtain the relevant standards applicable to their goods from UNBS Documentation Centre and forward them to their suppliers in case this has not been done. The suppliers should then contact any of the appointed agents (see list below) for inspection.

Once the goods are inspected and tested by the Agents they will issue a certificate and it is that certificate that will be used for clearance of goods at the point of entry into Uganda. From 3rd December 2012 all products falling in the categories above will have to be accompanied by a Certificate of Compliance. 

The business community is urged to obtain the relevant standards applicable to their goods from

UNBS Documentation Centre and forward them to their suppliers in case this has not been done. The suppliers should then contact any of the appointed agents (see list below) for inspection.

Once the goods are inspected and tested by the Agents they will issue a certificate and it is that certificate that will be used for clearance of goods at the point of entry into Uganda. From 3rd December 2012 all products falling in the categories above will have to be accompanied by a Certificate of Compliance.

ALL IMPORTS DESTINED FOR UGANDA IN THE CATEGORIES ABOVE ARE REQUIRED TO FULLY COMPLY WITH THIS NEW MEASURE EFFECTIVE 3RD DECEMBER 2012 

The period between now and 3rd December 2012 is to allow the business community engage with their suppliers to enhance compliance to quality standards.

The above measures have been put in place to:

(a) Reduce substandard imports of goods on the market.

(b) Reduce on the clearance time of goods at entry points in Uganda 

(c) Offer value for money and protect the health and safety of Ugandans.

(d) Offer a level playing field to locally manufactured quality products thereby enhancing trade and investments in the country. 

Appointed Agents for General Goods:

1. Societe Generale des Surveillance (SGS)

1 Place des Alpes

P.O. Box 2152

CH-1211,Geneva 1,

Switzerland

Tel: +41 (0) 22 739 91 11

Fax: +41 (0) 22 739 98 86

www.sgs.com

SGS Uganda Limited

2nd Floor Media Plaza

Plot 78, Kira Road, Kamwokya

P.O. Box 63

Kampala-Uganda

Tel: +256 414 342 746 / +256 392 739 966

2. Intertek International Limited

25 Savile Row

London, W1S 2ES U.K.

info.government@intertek.com

www.intertek.com/government

Zain Office Complex,

1st Floor, Block A

Plot 1, Hill Drive, Kololo

P.O. Box 72697

Kampala-Uganda

Tel: +256 414 230 990 / +256 414 231 990

Fax: +256 414 232 990

3. Bureau Veritas

67/71 Boulevard du Chateau,

92200 Neuilly-Sur-Seine

France

Plot 30, Regency Plaza

Lugogo Bypass

Kampala-Uganda

Tel: +256 792 280 280 / +256 792 280 281

Fax: +256 902 971 000

Email: pvoc.uganda@bureauveritas.com

Appointed Agents for Used Motor Vehicles:

1. East Africa Automobile Service Co. Ltd

101, 1-20-5 Rinkan, Yamato city

Kanagawa 242-0003, Japan

Tel: +81 46 205 7611

Mob: +971 566950210

Fax: +81-46-205-7610

Email: info@eaa-s.com

Website: www.eaa-s.com

2. Jabal Kilimanjaro Auto Elect. Mech.

P.O Box 68232,

Sharjah, U.A.E.

Tel: +9716-5319361

Fax: +9716 5319362

Email: jkilimanjaro_07@yahoo.com

Website: www.jkmnjaro.com 

3. JEVIC Co Ltd

15 Daikoku-Futo, Tsurumi-ku

Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture

Japan 230-0054

Tel: (045) 521-8527

Fax: (045) 521-8510

Website: www.jevic.co.jp

JEVIC EA Ltd

Toyotsu Building, Popo Road

(Off Mombasa Road)

Nairobi Kenya

Tel: +254-020-2151485

Mob: +254-708-719498

Email: lee.sayer@jevic.co.jp