Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) has opened a Food Safety Testing Laboratory for Northern Region based in Gulu.
The Regional Food Safety Laboratories will provide conformity assessment services to Enterprises and Industries involved in processing and value addition to ensure that their products meet the minimum quality standards before being put on the market.
The Laboratories will be testing both food and non-food products such as edible fats and oils, milk and milk products, water, fruits and vegetables, cereals and cereal products, grains and animal products, among others.
According to Mr. David Livingstone Ebiru, the Executive Director of Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS), the Bureau intends to open similar Testing Laboratories for Eastern Region based in Mbale and for Western Region based in Mbarara in the near future.
He noted that by moving the Testing Laboratories nearer to the majority of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) based in the countryside, the cost of doing business will reduce since Enterprises who used to seek testing services from UNBS Central Laboratories in Kampala can now get them at Regional Offices.
He also expects compliance to quality standards to improve and competitiveness of locally manufactured products enhanced.
While officiating the launch, Hon. Francis Mwebesa, Minister of trade, Industry and cooperatives has commended the Bureau’s initiative of decentralizing its services to the Regional Offices as this will support the Government’s Industrialization Agenda, given that the Government has opened up a number of Industrial Parks across the country.