Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1698926989082.pdf (Uganda)
MINISTERIAL STATBMBNT OI{ THE CLOSURE, OF SHOPS DEALING IN SUI}STANDARD ELECTRICALS ON THE MARKET HON.

WERIKHE MICHAEL K. MINISTER OF STATE FOR TRADE 21sr NOvBMBER 2olg Rt Hon.

Speaker, and Members Hon.

Muyanja Johnson ssenyotrgfl, Mp Mukono south, wanted to know why UNBS had a crackdown on counterfeit products in some shopping complexes in Kampala.

Introduction 1.1 The Uganda National Bureau of Standard.s was established by the UNBS ACT cap 327.
The mandate of the UNBS is standards development, standards promotion and standards enforcement.

The Bureau also administers the Weights & Measures Act, cap 103 of the laws of Uganda.

UNBS is mandated to enforce standards in the protection of public health and safety and the environment against dangerous and sub- standard products and ensuring fairness in trade.
The functions of the Bureau among others include: a) Require certain products to comply with certain standards in manufacture, composition, treatment or performance and to prohibit substandard goods where necessary; b) Enforce standards in the protection of the public against harmful ingredients, dangerous components, shoddy material and poor performance.

L.2 Prevalence of substandard goods on the market Government has a role to protect its citizens.
One of the challenges Government is still grappling with is the high level of substandard goods on the market.

To understand this better, UNBS commissioned a study rn 2017 to assess the extent and prevalence of substandard products on the market.

The findings, though not rosy, point to UNBS'contribution to reducing the number of substandard products on the market.
From the study it was established that a cross section of products on the Uganda market both imported and domestically manufactured are substandard.

on average, S|oh of the sampled products failed tests for compliance to Uganda Standards.

While the proportion of substandard products on the market is quite significant, it has reduced from 73'/o reported in a baseiine study done in 2013.
The most affected categories of products are: food and food products including beverages; chemicars including cosmetics, electrical and electronics, building materials and farm implements.

The lower prices charged for the substandard pro,Cucts is the main reason some people knowingly buy such products considering that prices of some genuine products are prohibitively high.
In 2013, Government put in place the Pre- Export Verification of Conformity to Standards (PVoC) as a measure to reduce substandard imported products into Uganda.

The programme 1 4l' il :ir.

requires that all goods falling under Uganda mandatory standards (this includes electricals) are inspected for quality by uNBS appointed inspectors such as SGS, Intertek and Bureau Veritas.

The programme has contributed to the reduction of substandard imports by 30-35%.
For the locally manufactured goods, government has put in piace mandatory certification through Statutory Instrument 2o1B No.

12 - The UNBS (Use of distinctive mark) regulations 2018.

UNBS, continue to invest in a sensitrzatron campaigns to empower consumers with knowledge to identify substandard product and subsequently shun them.

In.July 2OlB, UNBS published a list of non-conforming items that were picked from the market and tested at UNBS laborarories.
The information was made public to guide consumers.

This information together with earlier surveys and data led to the decision to clamp on substandard electrical products on the market that is stil1 on- going.

1.3 Dangers of fake and substandard goods a) Affect the health and safety of consumers as they contribute to the high disease burden and at times death.

Many experts link the substandard foods and cosmetics to the growing increase in cancer.
For electricals they lead to fires and destruction of property which is a loss to the economy.

3l b) Threaten the economy as they provide unfair competition on the market in terms of price this stifling investments and Government drive to industrialization.

c) Increase poverty as consumers do not get value for money and spend their resources buying the same product that has a shorter life period.
Despite the measures put in place, there is more that needs to be done especially in empowering the regulators such as UNBS to deliver on its mandate.

This is an issue that Parliament should take interest and address it holistically, and prioritized,.

1.4 Effects of substandard electrical products Electrical items are widely used in homesteads and workplaces for various purposes.

They therefore expose the users to various risks if not regulated.
Electricals are among those products that must fulfill mandatory standards as it has a dimension on health and safety.

Substandard electrical items could cause any of the following; a) Electrocution of the user or member of the household due to the exposed live parts.

b) Explosion due to the poor composition of electrical components such as the casing and cables.
c) Burning of buiiding arising from substandard wires used d) Loss of household income through purchase of less durable products e) Unfair competition with products that conform to standards Under the standard IEC 60335-1, Household Electrical products and similar electrical appliances must be safe as weil as serve the purpose.
Whereas UNBS has made significant efforts in ensuring voluntary compliance through close cooperation with various players in the different sectors, levels of noncompliance continue to pose a challenge.

UNBS continues to conduct it regulatory mandate through regular market surveillance activities as well as responding to specific complaints that might arise.
1.3 Laboratory test results of electricar products Through its market surveillance activities, UNBS procured 93 samples from the market that were tested in the laboratories.

6I samples faiied the laboratory tests, which constitutes 63% failure, on very critical safety parameters.

Out of the sampled electrical products, extension cables and energy saver bulbs are the most non-complying products with IOOo/o failure followed bv electric cables at 59o/o failure.
5l' Electric cables; the most failed parameters were cond.uctor resistance (53% failure), Conductor diameter (47% failure), protective conductor stze (47oh failure) and marking (24% failure).

Energy saver bulbs: The most failed parameters were Luminous flux (not marked, B5o failure), marking (6s% failure), torsion resistance (4O% failure), and lifetime test (20%o failure) and lastly initial marking requirements (lO% failure).
Extension cables (portable socket outlets): The most failed parameters were flexible conductor srze (94% failure), protection against electric shock (68% failure), resistalce to abnormal heat and fire (58% failure), terminals (32o/o failure), provision for earthing (lO% failure), and resistance to rusting.
L.4 The Operation at Energy Centre Under the IINBS Act Sec 14(1) Inspectors are ernpowered to conduct various activities aimed at ensuring that only products that meet the standards are put on the market.

Arising from the aforementioned, UNBS Surveillance team supported by Uganda Police Force as part of the work plan has drawn a program aimed at reducing substandard products from the market.
From previous operations, Energy Center was identified as the main source of substandard eiectrical products on the market.

6l ' The objectives of the operation was to: a) To identify specific businesses involved in the sale and distribution of substandard electrical products.
b) To obtain evidence of importation and distribution of the substandard electrical products c) To selze any substandard electrical products found in the business outlets d) To identify suspected persons involved in the sale and distribution of substandard electrical products for prosecution in accordance with the UNBS Act.

on 14 November 2ol9, forty six (46) electrical shops were inspected.
Approximately 4.O tons of substandard eiectrical products worth thirty five million one hundred forty five thousand shillings (UGX 35,145.000) were seized.

As a follow up of the operation, the affected business owners have been summoned to Police for further management of their confiscated products.

1.7 How do substandard imported products enter the country?

a) Traders take advantage of the inadequate capacity of UNBS.
UNBS requires additional staff to address this issue and I appeal to Parliament to appropriate at least UGX 6 billion to recruit additional 100 technical staff.

Currently only 40 staff undertake import inspection and have presence at 18 entry points out of the 7 l' ,' 160 entry points where traders clear their goods.

This alone creates a gap in regulatory function of UNBS.

b) Unscrupulous importers often use many tricks to circumvent regulatory requirements.
They do so by; smuggling such products through un-gazetted entry points, mis-declaration of imported products; and concealment of substandard products so as to avoid detection during verification.

Whenever such traders are found with the substandard products, they cannot provide evidence that they were indeed cleared bv UNBS.

1.8 Conclusion 2.The operation undertaken by UNBS was done within the law (UNBS Act cap 327 as amended) and as a response measure to reduce substandard goods on the market.

3.
3.

Reducing substandard goods from the current s4% requires concerted effort and more so by the Members of Parliament will reduce the disease burden on our people and spur economic growth.

4.

Parhament shouid further support UNBS' request for increased financial resources and laboratory infrastructure to the tune of UGX 28 billion during the current budgeting cycle for Fy 2o7g- 20.
The funds will be used for recruitment of 1OO staff (UGX 6 billion); support to MSMEs certification (uGX 5 billion); procurement of iaboratory equipment (UGX 6 billion); standards 8]'" '' enforcement (UGX 6 billion); and Support to ICT so as to increase service delivery through e-platforms (UGX 6 billion).

Kafabusa W Michael (MP) MINISTER OF STATE FOR TRADE 9i i