By George Bukenya
Loopholes in the Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) laws have put lives of Ugandans at stake due to the enadequence in its enforcement to have producers and dealers of the different products adhering to such regulations.
Many producers and dealers violet the law, for instance producers of the different products after gaining big market opportunities opt for expansion and start other production centres elsewhere while trying to produce more for market satisfaction yet these centres are not registered with the relevant regulating bodies.
For instance they go ahead to use the same UNBS Q-Mark even on those products produced in unregistered centres where in the end they end up producing and selling sub standardized goods which pose a threat to the citizens socially and economically.
Dealers in these products such cement, sugar bread, tea leaves sell quantities which do not confirm to those labelled weights on packages aiming at making huge profits at the expense of buyers who receive less quantities as opposed to what they have paid for.
The 1989 UNBS Act was amended in 2013 with a purpose of enhancing the competiveness of local industries, promotion of fair trade, protect the health and safety of the consumers including prevention of trade in sub-standard goods and coordinating the provision of Standards and also conformity Assessment and Accreditation services in Uganda.
The Act give the office of UNBS the mandate of enforcing standards in protection of public health and safety and the environment against dangerous and sub-standard products as well as ensuring fairness in trade and precision in industry through reliable measurement systems.
Sylvia Kirabo the UNBS spokes person while addressing reporters at Police Headquarters in Naguru, said that the dealers normally un park these products like cement and sugar reduce the qualities and repackage it and Stoke to their outlets.
Although she declined to mention particular dealers’ outlets, she said some dears have been apprehended after public outcry and are yet to be committed to court after investigations are done.
Kirabo also said that products are verified right from factory, during transportation up to their final destination and investing to find out whoever violets the law when packing wrong quantities also start from the production centres.
‘‘ The UNBS Q-Mark is given to the producers who fulfils the requirements like has a registered brand name, permanent physical address and has speciality in the production line or employs specialists,’’ Kirabo noted.
She further said that the law doesn’t allow producers to produce in a different area or region other than that registered with UNBS and again use the same Q-Mark. If the producer of a given product need expansion of her production like but in a different area or region, need to go back to the standards regulator a secure another Q-Mark after inspectors are satisfied that in that other area conform to the standards also.
Mr. Kitimbo Lawrence a Senior Inspector of products at UNBS said that, the Weights and Measures Act gives the standards regulator the mandate to go to factories and check so as to ascertain whether the products being produced are in conformity to the required standards including the weights of the already packed goods.
“ We received various complaints specifically about the quantities being packed on products like cement, sugar, tea leaves and bread people complaining that these specifications on the packages don’t reflect the weights dealers purport to be selling.
Investigations have been so far curried out and some perpetuators have been arrested,’’ Kitimbo revealed.
She further said that, “ the law permits UNBS to prosecute anybody who violets the standards put in place for example is someone is caught producing, transporting, storing, selling or even preparing to sell un satisfied goods.’’
Kirabo also warned and called on consumers to report the unfair method of trade were wholesalers and retailers sell underweight products and expired products which has become rampant in the country.