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STATUTORY INSTRUMENTS  
2021 No....  
 
The Uganda National Bureau of Standards (Certification Mark)  
Regulations, 2021  
(Under section 43 of the Uganda National Bureau of Standards Act, Cap 327)  
 
 
Arrangement of Regulations.  
Regulation  
1. Title.  
2. Application of Regulations.  
3. Interpretation.  
Part II –CERTIFICATION PROCESS  
4. Application for a permit to use Certification Mark  
5. Payment of Certification Fees  
6. Audit  
7. Product Sampling and Sam ple Testing  
8. Certification Review  
9. Decision to grant the permit to use Certification Mark  
10. Issuance of the Permit to use certification Mark  
11. Terms  for Use of the Permit  
12. Permit not transferable  
13. Liability of permit holder  
14. Refusal to grant permit   
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 15. Surveillance Audits  
16. Renewal of Permit  
17. Register of Certified Commodities  
18. Application of the Certification Mark  
19. Withdrawal, Suspension and Revocation of Permit  
20. Offences and Penalties  
Part III - Miscellaneous  
21. Appeals  
22. Repeal  
Schedules  
First Schedule Certification Mark  
Second Schedule Certification Mark Permit Fees  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
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 STATUTORY INSTRUMENTS  
2021  No ....  
 
The Uganda National Bureau of Standards ( Certification  Mark ) 
Regulations, 2021  
(Under section 43 of the Uganda National Bureau of Standards Act, Cap 327)  
IN EXERCISE    of the powers conferred upon the Minister responsible    for 
commerce by  section 43 of the Uganda National Bureau of Standards Act, and on 
the recommendation of  the National Standards Council, these  Regulations are 
made this ………… …... day of … ………………….  2021  
PART 1 - PRELIMINARY  
1.  Title.  
These Regulations may  be cited as the Uganda National Bureau of  Standards 
(Certification  Mark) Regulations, 2021  
2. Application  
These regulations apply  to manufacturers whose commodities are covered by 
compulsory standard specifications and those who may voluntarily wish to have 
commodities not covered by compulsory standard specifications certified.  
3.   Interpretation.  
In these Regulations, unless the cont ext otherwise requires - 
"act" means the Uganda National Bureau of Standards Act, Cap 327;  
"applicant” means a client applying for a permit to use the certification Mark  
 “authoris ed officer” means a person who has been appointed by the  Council or the  
Execu tive Director, with the approval of the Council , for the efficient performance 
of the functions of the Bureau under this Act”  
 “audit” means systematic, independent and documented process  for obtaining 
objective evidence  and evaluating it objectively to determine the extent to which 
the audit criteria  are fulfilled .  
  
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 “auditor” means person who conducts an audit  
"Bureau” means the Uganda National Bureau of Standards established under 
section 2 of the Act;  
“certification”  means a system that has its own rules of procedure and management 
for carrying out certification of conformity;  
“certification agreement “means an undertaking by an applicant that they will  
comply with certification requirements.  
“certification Mark” means a Standards Mark and Distinctive Mark  
“certification requirements” means specified requirement, including product 
requirements, which are fulfilled by the applicant as a condition of establishing or 
maintaining certification;  
“certification scheme” means certification system related to specified commodities, 
to which the same specified requirements, specific rules and procedures apply.  
“conformity ” means fulfilment of specified requirements ; 
"commodity ” means  any article, product or thing which is or will ultimately be the 
subject of trade or use;  
"compulsory standard  specification ” means  the standard specification declared  
under Section 18  of the Act;  
“council” means the National Standards Council established under section 4;  
"currency point " has the value assigned to it in Schedule 1;  
"director ” means  the director of  the Bureau appointed under Section 11    of the 
Act;  
“manufacture” means to make, produce, process, treat, assemble, alter, modify, 
adapt, convert, process or trea t; 
"manufacturer"    means   any   natural   or legal   person   engaged in making, 
production, processing, treatment, assembling, altering, modifying, adapting, 
converting or any other operation in relation to commodities;  
“non conformity” means the non -fulfilment of specified requirements;   
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 “Product requirement” means a requirement that relate directly to a product, 
specified in standards or in other normative documents identified by the 
certification scheme.   
“standard ” means a document, established by  consensus and approved by a body 
that provides, for common and repeated use, rules, guidelines or characteristics for 
activities or their results, aimed at the achievement of the optimum degree of order 
in a given context  and which is based on the consoli dated results of science, 
technology and experience, and aimed at the promotion of optimum community 
benefits;  
"surveillance audits " means periodic evaluation of  a quality control system or 
commodity of  a permit holder to determine conformity with  a releva nt standard 
and the terms and conditions of the permit.  
“technical expert” person who provides specific knowledge or expertise to the 
audit team  
“testing laboratory ” means a laboratory which measures, examines, calibrates or 
otherwise determines the characteristics or performance of commodities ; 
 “unit” means a markable package, bottle, sachet, container or similar material used 
for packing prescribed goods  
PART II - CERTIFICATION PROCESS  
4. Application for a Permit to Use Certification Mark  
(1) A person who intends to manufacture any commodity in respect of which a 
standard specification is declared under Section 15 of the Act shall  apply to the 
Council or person acting under the authority of the council for a permit  to use the 
standards mark as declared under Section 16 or the distinctive mark as declared 
under Section 18 of the Act.    
(2) An application for grant  or renewal of a permit shall be in a manner determined 
by the Council or person acting under the authority of the council.  The applicant 
shall comply with the terms and conditions of the certification scheme as stated in 
the certification agreement.  
(3) The application shall be made sep arately for each product  and for each 
manufacturing  facility /site. For a company with several commodities differentiated  
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 by type, trademark, brands , variants and any other characteristics for which 
certification is being sought it shall be specified in the application.  
(4) An authorised officer may return to the applicant the application submitted 
requesting the applicant to carry out such alterations in, or additions to, the 
information provided .  
(5) Once the application for permit to use a  Certification  mark is accepted, the 
applicant shall be required to pay the fees specified in Schedule 2. 
(6) An application  for permit  shall be valid for the  period  as determined under the 
certification scheme defined by the Bureau  beyond which , if a permit has not been 
granted, a new application shall have to be submitted.  
 
5. Payment of Certification fees  
The applicant shall pay the applicable fees specified in schedule 2 before the 
permit is issued.  
6. Audit  
(1) The audit process shall proceed in a manner prescribed by the Bureau.  
(2) The applicant shall allow unhindered access at all reasonable times by the 
auditor(s) or authorised officer(s)  of the Bureau to the manufacturing and other 
support facility (s) of th e product(s) specified in the application, including access to 
relevant documentation related to production , quality and quantities of 
commodities  to be certified  in order to carry out duties under the Act and this 
regulation .  
(3) The auditor (s) or authorised officer (s) shall evaluate the product and 
manufacturing facility to ascertain  conformity to the certification requirements.  
7. Product Sampling and Sample testing  
(1) Where samples are required for product evaluation , the applicant shall provide 
all reasonable facilities and assistance to the auditor (s) or authorised officer(s)  to 
draw and get samples of the commodity  in the presence of the applicant, or a 
person authorised by the applicant.    
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 (2) Product sampling, evaluati on and/or testing may be done at the applicant’s 
manufacturing facility, warehouse or storage, market or other location where the 
sample is available.  
(3) The sampling, evaluation and/or testing may be carried out by an auditor or 
authorised personnel usin g field testing equipment, in the presence of the applicant, 
or a person authorised by the applicant.  
(4) The cost of obtaining, transporting  and testing of sample s or any other expense 
incurred in connection with the product evaluation  shall be borne by the applicant.  
(5) Product testing shall be undertaken by the Bureau or in such other testing 
laboratory recognised by the Bureau as a testing laboratory.  
(6) Where UNBS has no capacity for testing, the samples may be tested at the 
applicant ’s facility using the applicant’s testing equipment by or under the 
supervision of the Bureau . The testing shall be carried out using the relevant 
standard test methods for the product.  
(7) The requirements against which the commodities of an applican t are evaluated 
shall be those contained in the specified standards and other normative documents 
as determined by the Bureau.  
(8) The results of product testing shall be communicated to the applicant .  
8. Certification Review  
(1) The auditor(s) or authorised officer(s) shall make a detailed audit report of the 
findings of the audit and test results.  
(2) The report shall be subject to a review  by  person(s) different from those that 
conducted the audit and product testing  and make recommendation to grant or not 
to grant the permit . 
9. Decision to Grant the permit to use certification Mark  
The Council or person acting under the authority of the Council, shall make a 
decision to grant permit to use certification  Mark  or not.  
10. Issuance of the Permit to use Certification Mark  
(1) A permit shall be issued for each  brand of the product for which certification 
has been applied for and granted.    
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 (2) The permit shall be valid for a period of twelve months from the date of issue.  
11. Terms for use of the permit  
(1) A permit holder shall ; 
(a) establish and maintain to the satisfaction of the Bureau a system of control, 
including inspection and testing;  
(b)ensure that the commodity in respect of which a permit has   been   granted   
conforms   to the  standard requirements  all the time . 
(c) in ca se of suspension, withdrawal or cancellation of a permit discontinu e    its 
use and immediately withdraw all promotional and advertising materia l   
containing   any reference  to that permit  and the Certification  mark . 
(2) A permit holder shall in addition to sub-regulation (1)  
(a) ensure that any record maintained in relation to the manufacturing process is 
made available for evaluation and review  by an auditor (s) or authorised officer(s)  
and shall, at the request of the auditor  or authorised person , allow the removal of 
the record to the premises of the Bureau for further scrutiny;  
(b) allow an auditor (s) or authorised officer(s)  access to the premises where the 
commodity specified in the permit is manufactured  or held  for the purpose of 
evaluating materials, production processes, finished commodities, quality 
assurance facilities and records  
12.  Permit  not transferable  
(1) The permit is non -transferable ;  
(2) A permit holder shall apply for a new permit;  
(a) In the case of relocation of plant site, the manufacturer shall give notice of the 
relocation to the Bureau, at least 21 w orking days before the transfer ; 
(b) Where there is a change in legal status of the  company including names and 
ownership of the company  
(C)Where    there   h as   been   any modification  in the commodity  or 
manufacturing process  that affects the inherent properties of the commodity.   
(d)The permit holder shall notify the Bureau of such modifications within 21 
working days.   
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 13. Liability of Permit holder  
A permit holder shall be responsible for the quality and safety of the product and 
shall be liable for any damage or injury arising from normal use of the product.  
14. Refusal to grant permit   
(1) The Council or a person acting under the authority of the Council may refuse to 
grant  a permit where - 
(a) the commodity in respect of which an application has been made does not 
conform to the standard specification  
(b) Other certification requirements under these Regulations have not been 
complied with.  
(c) the commodity in respect of which an application has been made  is banned by 
the Minister under Section 24C of the Act . 
(2) The C ouncil or a person act ing under the authority of the C ounc il, shall state 
the reasons for refusal in writing and notify the applicant of the refusal within 15 
working days after making the decision.   
15. Surveillance audits  
(1) The grant of permit to a manufacturer shall be followed by surveillance audits  
and/or product sampling and testing  conducted at the manufacturing facility 
warehouse or storage, market or other location where the sample is available .  
(2) The frequency and extent of audits shall be determined by the Bureau.  
(3)The surveillance audits may be  conducted without notice to the permit holder to 
ensure that the systems and procedures already evaluated  are being maintained.  
(4) The permit holder shall allow unhindered access of the  auditor(s) and/or  
authorised officer (s) of the Bureau to the manufacturing facility of the certified 
product(s), related ancillary services including access to relevant documentation 
related to production and quality and quantities of certified commodities.  
(5) Surveillance audits may be conduc ted where there are complaints, 
modifications  to the product, production process, or key personnel in the 
organisation to assess the impact of such changes on the quality and safety of the 
commodities.      
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 16. Renewal of permit   
(1)  A permit holder  shall apply to the C ouncil or a person acting under the 
authority of the Council for the renewal of a permit at least three months before the 
expiry of the permit.   
(2) The process of permit  renewal shall be carried out in the manner prescribed by 
the Bureau.  
17. Register of certified Commodities   
(1) The Bureau shall maintain an d publish a n up to date  register of permit holders  
which shall include :  
 identification of the product  
 the standard to which conformity has b een certified  
 identification of the applicant   
 permit expiry date  
 permit number  
 any other information so required by the Bureau  
(2) Whe n a permit has been renewed, suspended, withdrawn or cancelled, the 
Register shall accordingly be updated.  
 
18. Application of the Certification M ark  
(1) A certification mark shall only be applied on commodities  covered by  a valid 
permit.  
(2) The Certification mark shall not be applied on commodities  manufactured in a 
facility other than th at whose address is specified in a permit.  
( 3) The Bureau may issue guidelines for the application of the Certification Mark 
on commodities.  
19. Withdrawal, Suspension or Revocation of Permit    
(1) The Council may, at any time, withdraw, suspend or revoke a permit for such 
period if it is satisfied that -  
(a) the commodity  marked with the Certification Mark permit does not conform to 
the standard specifications;   
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 (b) the permit holder does not comply with the conditions of the permit   
(c) the permit holder ha s not provide d reasonable facilities to the auditor  or 
authorised person(s) to discharge the duties under these Regulations;  
(e) Complaints related to product conform ity  
( f) misrepresentation of the product  
( g) Deceptive advertisement  
 (h) manufacturer obtained the permit in an improper manner such as bribery or 
fraud.  
(i) the permit holder has been convicted of an offence under the Act.  
(j) the permit holder has contravened any of the provisions of these r egulations.  
(2) Before a decision to withdraw, suspend or revoke a permit is taken, the Council 
shall serve the permit holder with a written notice of fourteen days stating the 
grounds to the intended action. The permit  holder  shall be given an oppo rtunity to 
provide written explanation with fourteen days.  
(3) Where the explanation is submitted by the permit holder, the Council shall 
consider the explanation and if the permit holder so wishes give him an 
opportunity to be heard as soon as possible.   
(4) where no explanation is submitted by the permit holder, or in the opinion of the 
Council the explanation submitted is unsatisfactory, the Council  may, on the expiry 
of the notice, withdraw, suspend or revoke the permit.   
(5) If in the opinion of the Council , the explanation submitted is satisfactory, the 
Council  shall  not withdraw, suspend or revoke the permit.   
(6) where the Council withdraws, suspends, or revokes a permit under sub -
regulation 4 of this regulation, it shall immediately, in writing, inform the permit 
holder of the withdrawal, suspension or revocation.  
(7) Where  a permit has been withdrawn, suspended or revoked or has not been 
renewed on the expiry of the period of its validity, the permit holder shall 
immediat ely discontinue the use of the permit.  
(8) Suspension,  withdrawal of a permit shall be lifted when the permit holder has 
fulfilled all the conditions for which the suspension , withdrawal was made.   
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 (9) The Council or person acting under the authority of the council may cancel or 
terminate a permit upon a request of the applicant, where - 
(a) the production of the commodity has been terminated by the manufacturer or 
other lawful authority;  
(b) the manufacturer applies to cancel the permit;  
20. Offences  and Penalties  
Any person who — 
(1) makes any statement or representation, whether in writing or not, or applies any 
mark to any commodity which conveys or is likelyto convey the impression that he 
or she holds a permit for the standards mark of that commodity or is otherwise 
entitled to apply that standards mark when in fact he or she neither holds a permit 
for, nor is otherwise entitled to apply, that standards mark;  
(2) makes any statement or representation, whether in writing or not, or applies any 
mark to any commodity which conveys or is likely to convey the impression that 
he or she holds a permit for the distinctive mark of that commodity or is otherwise 
entitled to apply that distinctive mark when in fact he or she neither holds a permit 
for, nor is oth erwise entitled to apply, that distinctive mark;  
(3) makes any statement or representation, whether in writing or not,or applies any 
mark which conveys or is likely to convey the impression that a commodity 
complies with a standard specification or a compu lsory standard specification 
when in fact it does not do so;  
(4 )having been granted a permit for a standards mark or a distinctive mark applies 
that mark after the permit has expired or has been withdrawn, suspended, revoked 
or cancelled;  
(5) applies a st andards or distinctive mark otherwise than in accordance with the 
conditions of his or her permit;  
commits an offence under S. 26 (1 ) of the Principal Act and is liable on conviction 
in the case of a first offence to a fine not less than five hundred curre ncy points and 
not exceeding two thousand currency points or imprisonment not less than 2 years 
and not exceeding 5 years or both.   
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 In the case of a second offence to a fine of not less that two thousand five Hundred 
currency points and not more than ten th ousand currency points or imprisonment 
not less than 3 years and not exceeding six years or both  
  
PART  III - MISCELLANEOUS  
21. APPEALS.  
(1) A person aggrieved by- 
(a) the refusal to issue a permit  
(b) Conditions to a permit;  
(c) the withdrawal, suspension, revocation or cancellation of a permit or  
(d) the variation of any conditions on a permit,  
may within fourteen days of his or her being informed of that action, appeal in 
writing to the Minister through the Director.  
(2) The   Director   shall within    fourteen   days forward the appeal    to the  
Minister with such comments as he or she may think fit.  
22. REPEAL  
These regulations repeal the THE UGANDA NATIONAL BUREAU OF 
STANDARDS ( Certification ) REGULATIONS, 1995  and THE UGANDA 
NATIONAL BUREAU OF STANDARDS (Use of Distinctive Mark) 
Regulations 2018.  
 
   
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SCHEDULE 1  
Certification Mark  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
 
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 SCHEDULE 2  
Certification Mark  permit  Fees  
 Type of Fee  Category of 
Enterprises  Amount 
(UGX)  Fees billed  
 
 
1. 
 
  
Certification 
Fees 
 Micro & Small 
Enterprises  500,000   
 
Per permit issued to a 
commodity / product 
and per brand  
 
The fees above are 
exclusive of 
calibration and pre -
package verification 
costs, and such other 
incidental costs that 
may be associated 
with the certification 
process.  
 
 Medium & Large 
Enterprises  1,000,000  
Commodities with 
Compulsory Standard 
Specifications   18 per Unit   
 Fees computed on the 
basis of annual 
production per Unit  
This fee covers 
conformity 
assessment  fees 
 
2. Laboratory 
Testing Fees  For 2 samples, that is,  
the initial / renewal audit 
sample and the 
surveillance sample  As billed by 
UNBS lab 
or UNBS 
recognized 
laboratory  Per product / 
commodity sample to 
be tested  
 
 
  
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