Manufacturers during an engagement with UNBS
The Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) has urged local manufacturers and importers to comply with the Pre-Export Verification of Conformity (PVoC) program and other critical import inspection procedures.
This as UNBS on Wednesday convened a strategic engagement with key stakeholders from Uganda’s manufacturing sector to address challenges they face especially while importing goods and clarify on the requirements related to the importation of goods and raw materials into the country.
Speaking during the meeting held at UNBS headquarters in Kampala, Patricia Bageine Ejalu, the Deputy Director Standards at UNBS, emphasized the importance of importers asking for an Imports Clearance Certificate (ICC) from their clearing agents for all the PVoC entries.
UNBS also presented a detailed guidance on compliance protocols, documentation requirements based on Inspection and Clearance of Imports Regulation 2022.
Patricia clarified that inspection and clearance of imports are based on the UNBS Inspection and Clearance of Imports Regulation 2022.
Manufacturers welcomed the initiative, noting that it opened their eyes to the importance of an Imports Clearance Certificate (ICC) in the imports inspection processes since it is a must have regardless of prior inspection in the countries of origin.
Ronald Ahimbisibwe, the Ag. Manager Import Inspections at UNBS emphasized that “Whether the goods are inspected in the countries of their origin (under PVoC) or internally, the importer is supposed to get an Import Clearance Certificate (ICC) issued by UNBS.”
The stakeholders also discussed other challenges they face during the import inspection processes.
The importers say that most times their goods are cleared by Uganda Revenue Authority and UNBS, but that they are not allowed to leave the bonded warehouses under what they call unclear circumstances.
Some importers say that when their goods are not issued with a release order, they cannot, for instance, claim Value Added Tax refunds from the Uganda Revenue Authority unless they have proof that their goods have been cleared by UNBS.
UNBS encouraged importers to always ask for an Imports Clearance Certificate (ICC) from their Clearing and Forwarding Agents, who are, in this case, middlemen.
Unfortunately, Ahimbisibwe says some importers don’t bother to ask for this certificate, and they rely on the word of their clearing agents, yet the clearing agents sometimes skip some processes, especially on the standard verification.
UNBS expressed the willingness to implement exemptions of Authorised Economic Operators (AEOs) as required by the UNBS Inspection and Clearance of Imports regulation 2022 as a means to boost competitiveness.
“Just like in other countries, our business community should embrace standards to protect the safety of consumer, but also to be able to compete in the common market,” said Patricia.
This engagement is part of ongoing efforts to strengthen collaboration with manufacturers, importers, and the business community to support them in meeting regulatory standards.
