Africa-Press – Uganda. The National Standards Council, which is tasked with establishing and declaring standard specifications for commodities, has been rendered inactive following its disbandment by the line minister.
Uganda’s capacity to ensure the safety and quality of goods is being severely compromised due to the Uganda National Bureau of Standards’ (UNBS) failure to update critical standards and the absence of a functional National Standards Council, according to the 2024 Auditor General’s report.
These lapses are creating a regulatory void that could lead to the widespread entry of substandard products into the market, putting consumer safety at risk.
The National Standards Council, which is tasked with establishing and declaring standard specifications for commodities, has been rendered inactive following its disbandment by the line minister.
This administrative gap has had immediate consequences, leaving 75 crucial standards awaiting council approval. Without these updated regulatory frameworks, key sectors are left unregulated, leading to potential risks in product quality.
Further compounding the issue, the Auditor General’s review uncovered that 1,139 standards are outdated and in need of renewal to align with current industry realities.
These outdated standards affect essential sectors like petroleum, petrochemicals, natural gas, and everyday consumer goods such as insulated flasks and maize grain.
Without current, mandatory standards, there is no way to effectively test imported goods, allowing substandard commodities to flood the market.
This compromises consumer safety and gives local industries adhering to higher standards an unfair disadvantage.
The absence of updated standards and a functional council creates a regulatory loophole that unscrupulous importers could exploit, jeopardizing product quality, especially in critical sectors like food and petroleum.
The Auditor General’s report emphasizes the urgent need to address this crisis to safeguard public health and economic stability.
The report calls on the UNBS Accounting Officer to urgently collaborate with the Minister to reinstate the National Standards Council, enabling the prompt approval of pending standards and initiating the review and renewal of outdated ones.
Failing to resolve this issue poses a significant threat to the quality control system in Uganda and highlights the critical need for timely action to protect consumers and maintain the credibility of the country’s regulatory framework.
Source: Nilepost News
For More News And Analysis About Uganda Follow Africa-Press
