UNBS Urges Supermarkets to Stock Only Certified Products in Crackdown on Substandard Goods
The appeal was made by Ms. Sylvia Kirabo, the UNBS Head of Public Relations and Marketing, during a stakeholder engagement meeting with supermarket owners held at the Bureau’s head office in Bweyogerere.
Bweyogerere, Uganda
The Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) has issued a stern call to all supermarkets across the country to stock only locally manufactured products that are certified by the Bureau. This move is part of a nationwide strategy to rid the market of substandard goods and ensure the safety of consumers.
This directive aligns with the core mandate of UNBS — to promote and enforce standards aimed at protecting public health, safety, and the environment from harmful and substandard products.
The appeal was made by Ms. Sylvia Kirabo, the UNBS Head of Public Relations and Marketing, during a stakeholder engagement meeting with supermarket owners held at the Bureau’s head office in Bweyogerere.
“During routine market surveillance inspections around the country, we found that some new players in the supermarket sector are stocking uncertified products. In some cases, expired stock is deliberately sold to unsuspecting consumers, which is unacceptable,” Ms. Kirabo noted.
She emphasized that the meeting aimed to re-educate supermarket owners about their responsibilities under the law. “All supermarkets found violating these standards in future surveillance operations will be dealt with as per the legal framework,” she warned.
Another key issue discussed during the engagement was the challenge posed by imported products that arrive in Uganda without undergoing the mandatory Pre-Export Verification of Conformity (PVoC) or possessing a Certificate of Conformity (CoC). These lapses lead to significant delays and increased costs, as such goods are subjected to national inspection at the point of entry.
Mr. Ronald Ahimbisibwe, the Acting Manager of UNBS Imports Inspection department, highlighted the importance of adhering to the PVoC program.
“PVoC is a pre-shipment inspection initiative designed to ensure that only safe and high-quality products are imported into Uganda,” Mr. Ahimbisibwe explained. “Importers, including supermarkets, must engage with approved PVoC service providers in the countries of origin to conduct inspections, laboratory tests, and obtain the necessary CoCs before shipping goods.”
He added that the tendency by some importers to bypass these procedures out of impatience — especially while products are still undergoing testing — contributes significantly to the influx of substandard goods in the Ugandan market.
Supermarket owners in attendance appreciated the engagement and thanked UNBS for creating a platform where their concerns could be addressed. They also called on the Bureau to expand sensitisation efforts to all key players in the supply chain — including manufacturers, transporters, suppliers, distributors, and warehouse operators.
In response, UNBS assured stakeholders that sensitisation campaigns would be regularly conducted across the country to ensure full compliance and eliminate gaps in understanding of standards enforcement.
The UNBS toll-free line (0800 133 133) remains open for inquiries and reporting of non-compliant products or practices.
As part of its broader mission, UNBS continues to urge the business community to play a proactive role in protecting consumers and upholding the quality of goods on the market.
