UNBS starts consumer protection campaign

UNBS executive director Ben Manyindo

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Speaking at a sensitisation conference on UNBS mandate in Kampala on Wednesday, UNBS executive director Ben Manyindo said their major duty is about consumer protection where they must ensure that the public consume goods that meet the required standards.

Kampala.

Following increased public outcry over the poor quality of consumer products on the Ugandan market, the Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) has started engagements with other law enforcing entities to find means to protect consumers from substandard goods.

Speaking at a sensitisation conference on UNBS mandate in Kampala on Wednesday, UNBS executive director Ben Manyindo said their major duty is about consumer protection where they must ensure that the public consume goods that meet the required standards.

He, however, said there have been persistent complaints from the public that consumers were being exposed to substandard goods something that needed the relevant entities to come together to promote human life and enable the consumer get value for money.

UNBS mandate
“Our mandate deals with goods that do not meet standards and those are the goods were trying to eliminate.
“Such goods come to the market through importation of poor quality goods, locally manufactured goods especially from SME’s , adulterated products and those that get expired while still on the market,” he said.

He said to stop substandard products coming to the Ugandan market, initiatives like Pre Export Verification of Conformity to Standards has been introduced to ensure that goods are inspected from their countries of origin.

“Working with the Uganda Registration Services Bureau, we are in the process of registering all enterprises that produce for the local market and we have a surveillance team on the ground to ensure the elimination of all substandard goods,” Dr Manyido added.