Organizations in Uganda associated with quality control

Dr Tamale Andrew

FVM

VPH/PM

THE UGANDA NATIONAL BUREAU OF STANDARDS -

UNBS• Background:

The Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS), was established as a semi-autonomous body by an Act of Parliament in 1983. It has a National Standards Council (NSC) as its policy making body. The Executive Director together with the management team is charged with the administrative and operational responsibilities. The current staff strength of UNBS is one hundred and six (106) people, of whom approximately 75% are technical staff of the organization.

THE UGANDA NATIONAL BUREAU OF STANDARDS -

UNBS• UNBS Mandate, Vision and Mission

   1. Mandate: The UNBS mandate is provided through the Act of Parliament that established it and is given as: develop and promote standardisation; quality assurance; laboratory testing; and metrology to enhance the competitiveness of local industry, to strengthen Uganda's economy and promote quality, safety and fair trade.

   2. Vision and Mission: The vision of UNBS is to be a leading institution of international repute in the provision of standardisation services. UNBS' mission is to enhance national development through the application of standards in trade, industry to encourage fair competition and protect consumers.

http://www.unbs.go.ug

The role of UNBS•

The role of UNBS can be classified in terms of both Government's priority programmes and international relations:

 UNBS and Governments' priority economic development programmes UNBS' role and importance in the economic development of Uganda has continued to grow and the expectations from the public are also continuously increasing.

• The role of UNBS is increasingly becoming more and more relevant especially in the provision of technical expertise in mainstreaming quality standards in the government's economic programmes such as Poverty Eradication Action Plan (PEAP), Plan for Modernisation of Agriculture (PMA), Medium Term Competitive Strategy (MTCS) and Strategic Exports Programme (SEP).

 

The role of UNBS It is generally recognized that the export markets can only be obtained and sustained

when our locally produced products are internationally competitive not only in prices but also in quality. Uganda therefore requires a strong national standards infrastructure capable of among other things:

  spearheading development and implementation of standards for the various sectors of the economy,

Carrying out conformity assessment of products and services based on quality and standards requirements,

protecting the consumers against substandard, shoddy and hazardous products,

ensuring delivery of quality services to the people and ;

Facilitating the growth of strong private sector competitiveness on sustainable basis.

Functions of UNBS

The UNBS services to the public are both regulatory and supportive to trade in nature.

They are regulatory in as far as ensuring of fairness in trade and protection of the consumers against substandard, shoddy, and hazardous products is concerned; and are supportive to trade through the development and implementation of standards for the various sectors of the economy and carrying out conformity assessments of products to standards.

These activities ensure that manufacturers produce quality products that are competitive both locally and internationally.

UNBS in international relations:

UNBS is the National Enquiry Point on World Trade Organisation (WTO) agreements on Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) and sanitary and Phyto-sanitary Measures (SPS) as well as the National Codex contact point. UNBS is also a member of the International Standardisation Organisation (ISO)

At the regional level, UNBS is actively involved in the development and elaboration of regional standards at the East African Community (EAC) and Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA). The harmonised standards and codes of practice are geared at facilitating trade within the region.

UNBS as a Trade Support Institution

UNBS support trade through the provision of the following services:  Promotion of Exports: UNBS assists exporters by:

•  Providing information on standards and quality requirements of the export markets

• Conformity assessment of the export products through laboratory testing and inspection. Certificates of analysis and/or certificates of conformity are issued whenever required by the export markets.

• Providing training and technical advisory services to (both existing and potential) export-oriented industries and businesses on standardisation and quality assurance to enable them improve on the quality of the exports.

• Assisting in export-oriented industries and businesses in establishing Quality Management Systems (e.g., ISO 9000) in their processes to improve their capability of producing products that conform to the export market standards and quality requirements

Ensuring quality imports UNBS through implementation of the Import Inspection and

Clearance Regulations 2002 carries out inspection of imports to:•  Safeguard the health and safety of the consumers and the

environment against imported substandard, shoddy and hazardous products.

•   Safeguard our industries from cheap counterfeit imports that can be a threat to our infant industries.

•  Ensure that Uganda's hard-earned foreign exchange is not wasted on shoddy, substandard and sometimes dangerous products, which may not only further impoverish the people but also cause ill health sometimes resulting in death.

• Similarly, UNBS facilitates import trade by providing importers with information on requirements of Uganda Standards for onward transmission to potential suppliers abroad.

Ensuring quality importsEnsuring fairness in domestic trade: UNBS is the custodian of the physical

internationally traceable measurement standards such as the standard kilogram, standard metre length etc. UNBS does this through ensuring precision and reliable measurement systems by:

• verifying the accuracy of weighing and measuring instruments used by traders and consumers in commercial transactions,

• calibrating measuring and testing equipment used in industry to ensure accurate measures of products made by these industries

• Assisting the private sector, procurement agents, tenders, government and the general public in assessing conformity of purchases to specifications through testing, measuring and inspection of the consignments before delivery.

UNBS as a Regulatory Institution

The regulatory function of the UNBS is carried in the following ways: ·

Carrying out market surveillance to rid the market of dangerous, shoddy and substandard and counterfeit products. ·

Providing information and technical advisory services to industries to enable them meet quality and standards requirements. ·

Providing technical assistance to industries so as to improve on the quality and safety of their products and services.

Carrying out quality audits and inspection with the aim of quality marking or certifying products that conform to Uganda Standards or other specifications

Dairy development authority

Regulatory Services   The major thrust of the Regulatory Services department is to register,

license and regulate the activities in the Dairy Industry. The department is charged with functions a, d, and e under Section 7 of the Dairy Industry Act 1998, that is:

• Register and licence milk processors and traders.• Advise Government on milk standards in liaison with the Uganda

National Bureau of Standards.• Control and regulate dairy and dairy related input and export

activities in conformity with External Trade Act but without violating the Animal Disease Act.

• It also issues certificates on terms and conditions prescribed by the organization to processors, raw milk dealers etc., inspects them to ensure compliance with requirements, sets quality standards, monitors and advises on quality standards.

Planned Activities

• Identification, registration, and inspection of outlets of milk processors, and raw milk dealers countrywide, to ensure that all such dealers comply with dairy regulations.

• Enforcing Quality standards• Reform milk marketing to make milk safer for

consumers, and profitable for producers• Establishing a model milk outlet & laboratory

Planned Activities

• Producing Guidelines for Hygienic practices in milk handling.

• Generating and disseminating milk hygiene & quality information to end users (dealers and consumers)

• Monitoring and regulating milk Import and Export• Develop training and sensitization programs for

all stakeholders; Conduct training programs• Participation in shows and exhibitions

Achievements

• Dairy Development Authority has continued to register milk dealers and processors and categorizing those who operate coolers and freezers.

• Factories, milk processors and dealers’ premises were inspected. Registration certificates were issued to operate, some to importers.

• Registers have been compiled. The exercise for all these activities is on going in the different parts of the country.

Achievements

• Reports for quality assurance and products were submitted to DDA from laboratories.

• Local and imported products samples are still collected and tested for compliance with standards, and reports on results are made for stakeholders.

• Towards this, an Elec-Tester was procured for Dairy Corporation Limited (DCL).

Achievements

• Capacity to check milk quality has been established. The Entebbe laboratory was repaired, equipment and chemicals procured, and the laboratory made operational. For the model milk outlet and a laboratory at UMA show grounds, the building was completed and awaits installation of equipment.

• DDA has reviewed old guidelines/standards document for milk and milk products, and has put in place a Guidelines for Hygienic practices in milk handling document in collaboration with National Standards Committee of UNBS.

Company LocationInstalled Capacity('000 liters)

Alpha Dairies Mabarara 50

Anifarm Entebbe 6

Birungi Dairy Kisoro 8

Dairy Corporation Kampala 130

East African Foods Kampala 6

GBK Mbarara 90

Gouda Gold Kampala 5

Jesa Farm Dairy Busunju 20

Kaisa Fresh Milk Kamuli 10

MADDO Dairies Masaka 2

Mona Foods Kampala 20

Paramount Dairy Mbarara 3

Teso Dairies Soroti 3

White Nile Dairies Jinja 10

     

Uganda Fish Processors and Exporters associations (UFPEA)

Background The UFPEA founded in 1993 is an organization

that brings together all industrial fish processors in Uganda. 

With the birth of UFPEA, the fish sector has witnessed transformation into a modern processing industry with increased capital investments, increase in export revenue and improved Public Private Partnership with Government.

This has contributed to social economic wellbeing of fishing communities and other Ugandans employed in the sector.  

Mandate

VisionTo be an association where individual members work together to promote a sustainable, quality oriented, market and high value focuses approach in the fisheries sub-sector in Uganda

Mission• To set up  mechanisms to ensure full participation of

members in promoting Uganda’s fish products• To work in partnership with government with respect to

policies and programmes in the fisheries sector.• To promote the sustainable use of fisheries resources

and comprehensive quality management systems in the fisheries industry.

Environment

• UFPEA works hand in hand with the National Environment Management (NEMA) and Lake Victoria Fisheries Organization (LVFO) to ensure the continued high water quality and safe habitat for fish.

• Sustainability of fishery resources is a top priority for UFPEA as illustrated by self regulatory mechanism in the UFPEA members Code of conduct.

“UFPEA shall participle in and promote polices and measures geared toward the rational management of resources of fish in the natural water system’’

Safety/Hygiene

• Uganda ensures the safety of its fish exports right from the source (water bodies) to the market place. The Department of fisheries Resources, which is also the Competent Authority, carries out regular tests on the fish, water, and water sediments to check for heavy metals, microbial tests and pesticide residues. The analysis is done by world class laboratories.

• UFPEA has offered all members opportunities for training in implementation of HACCP, as well as ISO standards such as ISO 9001:2000 management standard, ISO 14000 Environmental standard, ISO 22000:2005 which encompasses both , quality and safety aspects that are in line with the new EU Food and Feed Directive:882/2004 that emphasizes traceability in the fish supply chain.

Achievement

• As a result of Uganda’s private sector and competent Authority paterniship towards quality and safety of fish products, Uganda has been recognized by the European Union Commission as a fully harmonized country. Uganda is on list 1 of exporting countries.

Meat industry & Uganda beef producers association

The Historical and Current Perspective

• Uganda was exporting beef from 400 ranches in the 1960’s and early 70’s.

• These exports gradually vanished in the later years of the 70’s mainly as a result of the economic melt down resulting from bad governance at that time.

• Today, meat from Uganda is not accessing world markets as the products do not comply with international sanitary and animal health requirements.

The Historical and Current Perspective

• Livestock production is an integral part of the agricultural system of many parts of Uganda contributing 5.2% and 12.7% to total GDP, and agricultural GDP respectively.

• Production has continued to grow at a rate of over 4% per annum, in response to increasing demand for milk and meat in the local market.

• Higher rates of growth are envisaged as Government pursues its policies of modernizing and commercializing agriculture.

Current Capabilities and Players

• Cattle are the most important of all the livestock in this country, with pastoralists and small holder agropastoralists owning over 90% of the cattle herd and the specialized farms and ranches accounting for the remaining 10%.

• This percentage of the national cattle herd that is being held on ranches and farms contributes only 11% of the slaughter animals as compared to 30% in the early 1970’s.

• The traditional cattle keepers form a large cluster of people currently supplying the domestic beef industry with most of them being found in the cattle corridor which runs from the Southwest to the Northwest

Government strategy

The government of Uganda has put in place livestock productivity improvement plans and policy frameworks to help with the recovery of the livestock industry.

The overall development strategy aims at maximizing the potential of Uganda's livestock sub-sector by providing investment incentives to increase animal inventories and related agribusiness. This strategy focuses on:

• Establishing an efficient livestock disease control system based on cost recovery;

• Achieving self-sufficiency in livestock products;

Government strategy

• Promoting and developing industrial linkages for livestock products including meat processing; and

• Encouraging the export of livestock and livestock products and strengthening research in livestock breeding in order to upgrade the quality and productivity of the present livestock breeds

Opportunities

• Opportunities do exist for a rapid transformation of the beef industry. The country has over 434 hectares of land that need restocking, if capital is mobilized.

• Of these, over 284,000 ha of land had been developed by government and leased out to private operators and about 150,000 ha were developed as government ranches and breeding farms.

• In addition, several Ugandan entrepreneurs have large tracts of land that could be developed into commercial ranches through joint-venture capital.

• There are also opportunities for research in breeding, nutrition, health and management in order to improve livestock productivity in the country

Markets – In country, regionally and beyond

• The growing population in Uganda means that the domestic market for beef is expanding. The population continues to grow at the rate of 3.4% per annum, which is currently rated as being the highest in the world.

• It is anticipated that in 5 to 10 years time virtually all countries will experience an improvement in their standards of living and average per capita income.

• It may be safely assumed that, with this increase in living standards, the various populations will purchase more beef

Markets – In country, regionally and beyond

Ugandan beef trade has, thus, become an intensive marketing activity associated with:

• • A growing population;

• • Increased per capita consumption;

• • Increased household incomes; and

• • Better knowledge of beef as a main food.

Markets – In country, regionally and beyond

• Uganda can service the neighboring countries namely: Rwanda; Burundi; Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC); Southern Sudan; Tanzania; Chad; and Western Kenya.

• There are also potential export markets in the Middle East, Arab and European countries. The Arab Countries of the Middle East – provide a most promising market for meat from the East African region.

Markets – In country, regionally and beyond

• The government of Uganda carried out test marketing of beef to Egypt with encouraging results. Whereas the meat quality standards in Egypt are higher than the Sub-Sahara Africa standards, they are less stringent than the European Union (EU) standards.

Markets – In country, regionally and beyond

• It is noteworthy that there are special requirements to halal(the Islamic culture of slaughtering animals) slaughtering by the Muslim population, which is very compatible with the Uganda beef industry procedures. With a Muslim population of 1.79 billion globally, the rapid expansion of the Halal food sector is a key opportunity with an estimated value of USD 150 billion annually but projected to reach USD 500 billion by the year 2010

Competitiveness

• Uganda, being landlocked, presents a major competitive advantage, especially, since it is a net surplus agriculture producer in the region.

• The Government commissioned a study which recommended the establishment of structures and systems that generate international confidence.

• In this regard, in order to enhance penetration of the European market, the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF) is working on the establishment of Disease Control Zones

Competitiveness

• (DCZs), as the first step towards production of healthy animals.

• MAAIF hopes that the establishment of DCZs should help investors build a world-class abattoir, equipped and operated to internationally accepted standards of hygiene.

• Eventually, the DCZs will become Disease-Free Zones (DFZs), with a larger national abattoir network