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STATUTORY INSTRUMENTS  
SUPPLEMENT No………                                                                            Date       …………  
 
STATUTORY INSTRUMENTS SUPPLEMENT  
To the Uganda gazette  No. ……., volume CXI, dated …………...  
Printed by UPPC, Entebbe, by Order of Government.  
 
 
S T A T U T O R Y  I N S T R U M E N T S  
 2021 No.……  
 
THE UGANDA NATIONAL BUREAU OF STANDARDS (INSPECTION AND 
CLEARANCE OF IMPORTS) REGULATIONS, 2021  
 
ARRANGEMENT OF REGULATIONS  
PART I – PRELIMINARY . 
Regulation  
1. Title.  
2. Application.  
3. Interpretation.  
PART II – INSPECTION  AND CLEARNACE  OF IMPORTS.  
 
4. Commodities to conform to compulsory standard specification.  
5. Commodities to be accompanied by certificate of conformity or certificate of 
roadworthiness . 
6. Commodities not accompanied by certificate of conformity or certificate of 
road worthiness.  
7. Application for import clearance certificate.  
8. Issuance of an import clearance certificate.  
9. Destination inspection.  
10. Inspector to verify shelf life of  the commodities prior to issue of import 
clearance certificate.  
11. Inspector not to release commodities without import clearance certificate.  
12. Commodities to be marked with Distinctive mark  
13. Commodities manufactured with the partner state of East African 
Community.  
14. Notice to destroy or re -export commodities.  
15. Release under seal.  
16. Revocation of S.I No 24 of 2018 . 
  
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 SCHEDULES  
SCHEDULE 1  
 
Part 1- Categories of Commodities Subject to Pre Export Verification of     
Conformity to Standards.  
 
Part 2 - Commodity that are Exempt from Pre Export Verification of 
Conformity to Standards.  
Part 3 - Commodity that are Exempt from Destination Inspection  
 
 
SCHEDULE 2 – Fees and Charges for Import Inspection and Clearance.  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
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 S T A T U T O R Y  
I N S T R U M E N T S  
 
2021 No.….. 
 
The Uganda National Bureau of Standards (Inspection and 
Clearance of Imports) Regulations, 2021 . 
(Under section 43 of the Uganda National Bureau of Standards Act, Cap. 327)  
 
In EXECISE of the powers conferred upon the Minister by section 43 of the 
Uganda National Bureau of Standards Act, Cap.  327, these Regulations are made 
this …th day of …., 2021 . 
 
PART I - PRELIMINARY  
1. Title.  
These Regulations may be cited as the Uganda National Bureau of Standards 
(Inspection and Clearance of Imports) Regulations, 2021 . 
 
2. Application.  
These Regulations apply to commodities for which the minister declares 
compulsory standard specification under section 18 of the Act.  
 
3. Interpretation.  
In these Regulations, unless the context otherwise requires –  
 
“Act” means the Uganda National Bureau of Standards Act, Cap.  327 ; 
 
“Authorized Economic Operators (AEO)” means  a person involved in the 
international movement of goods for whatever function  that has been approved by 
or on behalf of a national customs body as compliant with WCO or equivalent 
supply chain security standards. ”; 
 
“Bureau” Means the Uganda National Bureau of Standards established under 
section 2 of the Act.  
 
“Certificate of Road worthiness” means a document issued by the bureau’s 
contracted third party demonstrating that adequate assurance is provided  by the 
exporter that the motor vehicle, is in conformity with the compulsory standards 
specification;   
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 “Certificate  of Conformity” means a document issued by the bureau contracted or 
recognized third party demonstrating that adequate assurance is provided by the 
exporter/importer that their commodities are in conformity with compulsory 
standa rd specification;  
“Commodity ” means any article, product or thing, which  is or will ultimately be 
the subject of trade or use.  
“Compulsory Standard Specification” means a standard specification declared as 
such under section 18 of the Act;  
 
“Conformity Assessment” means a set of processes that show a  commodity , 
service , process  and system meets  the specified requirements ; 
 
“Conformity” means fulfilment of specified requirements;  
 
“Consignment” means all commodities represented by one customs entry number ; 
 
“Council” means the council of Ministers of the East African Community 
established by Article 9 of the Treaty for the Establishment of the East African 
Community.  
 
“Destination inspection” means conformity assessment done within Uganda at the 
port of ent ry or at any other premise permissible by the Bureau;  
 
“Distinctive mark” means a mark declared as such under section 18 of the Act;  
 
“Electronic single window” mean  a platform  that is Government mandated and 
allows for the submission of electronic information to fulfill regulatory 
requirements between economic operators and Government authorities;  
 
“Government project specific commodities” means commodities that are a direct 
input into  a project for the government of Uganda where the project has a specific 
timeline and a quality management system, to give assurance to quality;  
 
“Import clearance Certificate” means a document issues by the Bureau attesting 
that the quality of an imported  commodity conforms to the compulsory standard 
specification  and has been cleared by an authorized officer in accordance with the 
Import Inspection Regulations ; 
  
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 “Inspector ” means an employee of the Bureau appointed by the  
National  Standards Council to exercise the powers or perform the duties of an 
inspector and enforce these regulations;  
 
“Licensed Commodity, ” means a commodity that  is continuously assessed by the 
Bureau and deemed complaint with the relevant  national or internati onal standards 
using a known process;  
 
“Low Risk ,” means commodities that can be exempted from holding during testing 
according to the Bureau’s risk profiling framework.  
 
“non conformity” means the non -fulfilment of specified requirements;  
  
"notified prod uct certification  mark"  means  a mark  declared  as such  under  
East African  Community cooperation agreements or  arrangements;  
 
“Pre-export Verification of Conformity (PVOC)” means conf ormity assessment 
performed in the country of export / origin that verifies the exporter / 
manufacturer’s statement that their commodities conform to the relevant 
Compulsory Uganda Standards or any other approved International Standards.  
 
“Notified product certification quality mark” means a mark declared as such under 
East African Community cooperation agreements or arrangements  
 
“Product Certification mark” means a mark notified to the council of Ministers of 
the East African Community, by a partner state of the East African Community 
under section 24 of the East African  Community standardization, Quality 
Assurance, Metrology and Testing Act, 2006 as a product certification mark;  
 
“Registered commodity, ” means a commodity with a reasonably consistent level of 
compliance to national or international standard specifications  and which may be 
exempted from mandatory testing  and physical inspection ; 
 
“Re-works,” means activities approved and undertaken by the importer under the 
supervision of the bureau to bring the imported products into compliance with the 
requirements of the  compulsory standards specifications.  
 
“Risk” means potential of non -compliance with import inspection regulations or 
effect of uncertainty on import inspection objectives.   
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“Risk Indicators” means specific criteria, which when taken together, serve as a 
practical tool to select and target consignments of goods for the potential for non -
compliance with the bureaus imports inspection regulations.  
 
“Risk profile” means  a predetermined combination of risk indicators, based on 
information which has been gathere d, analyzed and categorized.  
 
 “single customs territory (SCT)” means that wholesome territory of the five East 
African Partner States where goods clearance is implemented at the first port of 
call for the entire territory;  
 
“used  motor vehicle” means  a motor vehicle that has previously been registered in 
Uganda or elsewhere;  
 
"unregistered commodity" means a commodity  without  prior information 
regarding its conformance  and which  shall  be inspected and tested  to assess  
compliance.  
 
PART II – INSPECTION AND  CLEARANCE  OF IMPORTS  
 
4. Commodities to conform to compulsory standard specification.  
A person shall not import or export into Uganda commodities for which a 
compulsory standard specification has been declared by the Bureau, where the 
commodities do not meet the requirements of the compulsory standard 
specification.  
 
5. Commodities to be accompanied by a certificat e of conformity or 
certificate of road worthiness.  
 
1) The commodities specified in schedule 1, part 1 shall, pr ior to being 
imported into Uganda be subjected to Pre-export Verification of conformity to 
standards (PVoC), in the country of origin /or export . 
 
2) A certificate of conformity or a certificate of road worthiness for used motor 
vehicles shall accompany the co mmodities referred to in sub regulation (1) . The 
certificate of road worthiness shall be valid for only nine (9) month from date of 
issue for each customs entry . 
  
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 3) The Bureau shall at a port of entry into Uganda  or at entry to the Single 
Customs Territory (SCT) , carry out conformity assessment of the commodities 
specified in sub regulation (1), to assess the compliance of the commodities to the 
compulsory standard specification, whether the commodities are for tr ade or  
personal  use. 
 
4) Notwithstanding sub regulation (1),  
 
(a) Where  the commodities specified in schedule 1, Part I, qualify to be 
classified  as commodities specified in schedule 1, Part II, the commodities 
shall be exempt from pre export verification of conformity to standards 
(PVoC)  but shall be required to undergo destination inspection . 
(b) Where  the commodities specified in Schedule 1, Part 1,  have been profiled 
as low risk products based on the bureaus risk profiling framework, the 
commodities may be exempt from Pre -export verification of Conformity to 
standards (PVOC) but shall be required to undergo destination inspection.  
(c) Where  the commodities specified in schedule 1, Part 1, are being imported 
by importers profiled as low risk importers based on the bureaus risk 
profiling framework and registered as Authorized Economic Operators 
(AEO), the commodities may be exempt from Pre -export Verification of 
Conformity to standards (PVOC) but shall be required to undergo 
destination inspection.  
 
6. Commodities not accompanied by certificate of conformity  (CoC)  or 
certificate of road worthiness  (CRW) . 
 
1) Notwithstanding regulation 5, where the co mmodities specified in 
schedule 1, part I, are not accompanied by a certificate of conformity or a 
certificate of road worthiness, the commodities shall be subjected to 
destination inspection.  
 
2) For purpose of sub regulation (1), the importer shall pay the inspection 
fees and the charges prescribed in schedule 2 and a surcharge of fifteen 
percent of the cost, Insurance and Freight (CIF) value of the commodities 
subjected to inspection clearance.  
 
3) Where the commodities referred to in sub regulation (1) comply with 
the requirements of the compulsory standard specification, the Inspector shall 
issue an import clearance certificate.  
  
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 4) Where the commodities do not conform to the requirements of the 
compu lsory standard specification, the Bureau shall issue a notice to 
the importer to take corrective action , destroy or re -export the 
commodities, depending on the risk of the commodities to the 
environment  and in accordance with section 13 . 
 
7. Application for Import Clearance Certificate  
 
1) An importer of commodities specified in schedule 1 shall make an application 
for UNBS  clearance and issuance of an import clearance certificate by 
submitting an accurate customs declaration through the electro nic single 
window  prior to or upon the arrival of the commodities at a port of entry in 
Uganda or at entry to the single customs territory (SCT).  
 
2) The application in sub regulation (1) shall be accompanied by – 
a) The bill of lading or airway bill;  
(b) The packing list;  
(c) The invoice  
(d) The customs declaration;  
(e) Customs transit document;  
(f) The certificate of conformity or certificate  of road worthiness, where 
applcable; and  
(g)  A valid product certification permit , for commodities that originate rom a 
partner state of the East African Community or commodities to which 
regulations 12 applies.  
(h) Export certificate for motor vehicles;  
(i) UNBS exemption letter where applicable;  
(j) Passport page and other support documentation  for returning residents 
where appli cable;  
(k) Diplomatic notes endorsed by the Ministry of Foreign affairs for those 
seeking exemption on diplomatic cargo.  
 
3) Where the commodities are accompanied by a certificate of conformity or a 
certificate of road worthiness, the inspector shall verify th e commodities to 
confirm that the commodities match the declaration in the application and in 
the certificate of conformity or the certificate of road worthiness.  
 
 
  
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8. Issuance of Import Clearance Certificate.  
An inspector shall issue an import clearance certificate where the commodities 
are after verification found to match the certificate of conformity or certificate 
of road worthiness.  
 
9. Destination inspection  
 
1) The following commodities are subject to destination inspection – 
 
a) Commodities in schedule1, p art I, which arrive at the port of entry  or at entry 
to the SCT  without a certificate of conformity or a certificate of road 
worthiness;  
 
b) Commodities in schedule1, part I , which arrive at the port of entry  or at 
entry to the SCT  with a certificate of conf ormity or a certificate of road 
worthiness but were upon verification, the inspector – 
(i) Has reason to believe that the commodities don not match the certificate of 
conformity or certificate of road worthiness; or  
(ii) Finds reason to doubt the compliance of the  commodities with the applicable 
compulsory standard specification;  
 
c) Commodities  which have a valid product certification permit and 
commodities  to which regulation 12 applies, where the inspector  has reason 
to doubt the quality of those commodities;  
 
d) Commodities under sub regulation 5(4)(b) and 5(4)(c)   
 
e)  Commodities, which are re -exported from a Partner State of the East 
African Community and are accompanied by a Certificate of 
Conformity.  
 
2) An inspector to determine conformity with the compulsory standard 
specification shall inspect the commodities subject to destination inspection . 
  
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 3) An inspector may take a sample of the commodities subject to destination 
inspection for laboratory analysis, to determine conformity with the 
compulsory analysis.  
 
4) The importer of the commodities to which this regulation applies, shall pay a 
destination inspection fee and where the commodities are subject    to sampling 
and   laboratory    analysis,    the   relevant test   charges.    
 
5) The importer of the commodities t hat are subject to destination inspection  
shall be responsible for the cost of storage, laboratory analysis and any other 
incidental charges incurred during destination inspection.  
 
6) An inspector shall issue an import clearance certificate in respect of the  
commodities that are determined to conform to the compulsory standard 
specification.  
 
7) Where the inspector determines that the commodities which are subjected to 
destination inspection do not  conform to the compulsory standard 
specification, the inspector shall notify the relevant authorities and where 
applicable, the Uganda Revenue Authori ty and  may –  
 
a) refuse entry of the commodities into Uganda.  
 
b) issue a notice to the importer to take corrective action or  destroy or re -
export the commodities; or  
 
c) Refuse to release the commodities, where the commodities are in a customs 
bonded warehouse or a store under a seal of the Bureau.  
 
10. Inspector to verify shelf life of commodities prior to issue of import 
clearance certificate.  
 
In the case of commodities with a definite shelf life, the inspector shall before 
issuing an import clearance certificate determine that commodities have a 
defined and marked shelf life of at least –  
 
(1) 75% for the food products  at point of entry or for foo ds products with self -
life of more than 18 months, at least 12 months at the point of entry .;  
  
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 (2) 50% for all other commodities.  The best before or period after (PAO) shall 
be applicable in the case of cosmetics.  
 
11. Inspector not release commodities without im port clearance certificate.  
 
An inspector shall not release commodities from a port of entry  or entry to the 
SCT, other than to a customs bonded warehouse or to a store under a seal of 
the Bureau, unless the importer of the commodities has been issue d with an 
import clearance certificate.  
 
12. Importer not to place products in the  market unless they bear the 
Distinctive Mark  
(1) An importer shall not place any commodity  on the market  for which a 
compulsory standard specification has been declared by the Bureau, unless 
the commodity bears a distinctive mark prescribed in schedule 2;  
(2) An importer shall procure the digital tax stamp for excisable commodities or 
digital conf ormity stamps for non -excisable commodities equivalent to the 
commodity units  being imported;  
(3) The importer may apply the distinctive mark either before importation after 
obtaining a certificate of conformity for the commodities issued by any pre -
export ver ification of conformity to standards service provider contracted by 
the bureau or after importation after obtaining an import clearance certificate 
issued by the bureau.  
 
13. Commodities manufactured with in a partner state of the East African 
Community.  
 
An importer of commodities manufactured within a partner state of the East 
African Community, with a valid product certification permit and bear a 
product certification  mark , notified by that partner state, shall apply for and be 
issued with an import clea rance certificate and the commodities shall  not be 
subjected to Pre -Export Verification of conformity  to standards or destination 
inspection if;  
(1) The commodities have been issued with a valid notified product certification  
mark permit of the partner state o f origin issued against harmonized EAC 
standards;  
(2) The commodities have been issued with a valid notified product certification 
mark permit of the partner state of origin issued against national or 
international standards where harmonized EAC standards  do not exist;   
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 (3) Where commodities are not accompanied and /or issued with a valid product 
certification mark permit or where the commodities are accompanied by 
valid product certification permit not issued against the harmonized East 
African Standards where  such exi st, such commodities shall be subject to 
destination inspection.   
 
 
 
14. Notice to undertake corrective action, destroy,  or re -export 
commodities.  
 
1) Where a notice to undertake corrective action or destroy or re -export 
commodities is issued under these regulations, the commodities shall  be 
reworked or destroyed or re -exported within twenty one days of issue of the 
notice and at the expense of the importer  
 
2) The commodities under this regulation shall - 
 
a) be destroyed, where the commodities do not pose a significant risk to the 
environment ; or  
 
b) Be re -exported to the country from which they were imported where the 
commodities pose a significant risk to the environment.  A URA customs re -
export certi ficate will be obtained by the importer /exporter as proof of re -export;  
 
c) Reworked in accordance with processes documented by the importer and 
approved by the bureau and issued with the import clearance certificate after re -
evaluation for compliance to rele vant standards.  
 
3) The commodities for re -export shall not be re -exported to any other country 
other than the country from which they were imported from.  
 
4) The destruction of the commodities for which a notice to destroy is issued 
shall be done in accordance with the applicable national laws.  
 
15. Release under seal  
  
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 1) Where an inspector subjects commodities to inspection and testing and the 
importer is cleared by the Uganda Revenue Authority, the inspector may release 
under seal, the commodities to a sealable stora ge facility of the importer.  
 
2) For purposes of sub regulation (1) an importer shall make an application to 
the Bureau for release under seal of the commodities from a customs bonded 
warehouse, and the application shall be accompanied by a bank ers cheque or draft 
with a period of validity of six months and which shall be worth fifteen percent of 
the cost, Insurance and Freight (CIF) value of the commodities under inspection 
and testing by the bureau . The importer/clearing agent shall sign an undertaking 
not t o tamper with goods under seal at his/her premises and UNBS shall not be 
liable for any damage or disappearance of goods sealed at these premises;  
 
3) The bank er’s cheque or draft shall be executed  where the commodities do 
not meet the requirements of the compulsory standard specification, to cater for 
the cost of destruction.  
 
4) The bankers cheque or draft shall be returned to the importer where the 
importer is issued with an important clearance cert ificate.  
 
5) Where the importer elects to retain his commodities that are under UNBS 
query at the customs bonded ware house, the importer is still liable to deposit 
with UNBS a banker ’s cheque or draft that will either be returned after the query 
is resolved and goods deemed to meet the standard specifications, or executed and 
used to facilitate destruction of the commodities where they are found not to 
conform to standard specification.  
 
6) The release under seal shall be subject to payment of a release under se al fee 
prescribed in schedule 2.  
 
16. Revocation of S.I No. 26 of 201 8 
The Uganda National Bureau of standards (Import inspection and Clearance) 
regulations, 2018 , are revoked.  
 
 
   
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 SCHEDULE 1  
Regulations 5(1), and 9(1)  
 
PART 1  
 
CATEGORIES OF COMMODITIES SUBJECT TO PRE EXPORT 
VERIFICATION OF CONFORMITY TO STANDARDS.  
 
1 Group I   Toys.  
2 Group II   Electric and electronics including solar panels and systems.  
3 Group III  Automotive products and inputs.  
4 Group IV  Chemical commodities.  
5 Group V   Mechanical materials and  gas appliances  including construction 
materials and items.  
6 Group VI  Textile, Leather, Plastic and rubber.  
7 Group VII  Furniture including wood and metal articles  
8 Group VIII  Paper and Stationery  
9 Group IX  Protective safety equipment.  
10 Group X   Food and food p roducts.  
11 Group XI  Used commodities including used motor vehicle.  
 
 
PART 2  
COMMODITIES THAT  ARE EXEMPT FROM  PRE EXPORT 
VERIFICATION OF  CONFORMITY TO  STANDARDS  
 
1. A consignment   whose Free on  Board ( FOB ) value  does not exceed US$ 2000,  
with exception of used motor vehicles..  
2. Consignments of commodities profiled as low risk based on the bureaus risk 
profiling framework.  
3. Consignments of imports by importers profiled as low risk importers based on 
the bureaus risk profiling framework and r egistered as Authorized Economic 
Operators (AEO)  
4. Government project specific  commodities  whose procurement has an inbuilt or 
demonstrated quality assurance system that guarantees conformity to national 
standards.  
 
5. Raw materials and direct inputs in the man ufacturing processing including 
packaging material imported for use in  a manufacturing process and not for  sale.  
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 6. Diplomatic  cargo  
 
7. Personal  effects of returning  residents  and expatriates  
 
8. Commodities manufactured  in or originating from a Partner State of the EAC.  
 
9. Industrial machin ery and accessories, including  spare parts brought  in for a 
manufacturing  process and not for re -sale. 
 
10. Farm machinery, Agro processing equipment, and spare parts not for resale.  
11. Mining equipment and spares not for resale.  
12. Branded or engraved hospitality & tourism industry equipment, excluding 
vehicles.  
13. Classified military , police , prisons  and state House, cargo,  
14. Religious books and literature such as Bibles, Qurans and other such related 
printed matter  
15. Medical equipment  regulated and registered by NDA.  
 
PART 3  
 
COMMODITIES THAT ARE EXEMPT FROM DESTINATION INSPECTION  
1. Commodities whose Cost Insurance and Freight (CIF) value does not exceed  
US$  1300 with  the  exception  of  food,  baby products, sanitary pads, cosmetics,  
tungsten  filament  bulbs,  electric cables,   compact   fluorescent   lamps,   portable   
socket  outlets or extension sockets, flat irons, electric kettles, solar   lanterns, energy   
saving   bulbs,   solar   battery chargers,  solar  panels,  electric  plugs,  water  
heaters, electric  sockets,  electric  switches,  electric  blenders, shovels, gar den 
hoes, pick axes, machetes and cement.  
2. Raw materials, direct inputs in the manufacturing processing including 
packaging material   imported   for use in a manufacturing   process and not for sale.  
3. Industrial   machinery and accessories, including   spar e   parts  brought   in  for  a  
manufacturing  process and not for re -sale. 
4. Farm machinery, Agro processing equipment, and spare parts not for resale.   
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 5. Diplomatic cargo accompanied by a diplomatic note and which is clearly for 
personal or office use.  
6. Person al   effects  of returning  residents  and expatriates  
7. Commodities    manufactured in a Partner State of the EAC with a valid 
certification permit and bearing a notified product certification mark in accordance 
with Regulation 12.  
8. Classified military , poli ce, prisons  and state house cargo.  
9. Religious books and literature such as Bibles, Qurans and other such related 
printed matter . 
10.  Medical equipment registered and regulated by NDA.  
 
   
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 SCHEDULE 2  
Regulations 9(4), and 14(5)  
 
FEES AND CHARGES FOR IMPORT INSPECTION AND CLEARANCE  
1. The inspection fees and charges shall be based on the free on Board ( FOB) 
value of the import shipment as follows - 
 
a) Fees for unregistered commodities shall be 0.500% of Free on Board (FOB) 
value but in any case not less than USD 2 35 and not more that USD 3,000.  
 
b) Fees for registered commodities shall be 0.45% of Free on Board (FOB) value 
but in any case not less than USD 235 and not more that USD 3,000.  
 
c) Fees for licensed commodities shall be 0.25% of Free on Board (FOB) value 
but in any case not less than USD 235 and not more that USD 3,000.  
 
d) The fees payable for the inspection of used vehicles shall depend on the 
country of origin and shall be as follows - 
i. Japan – US$ 140  
ii. Singapore – US$ 200  
iii. United Kingdom – US$ 200 or GBP 125  
iv. South Africa – US$ 220  
v. United Arab Emirates – US$ 125; and  
vi. Other countries – US$ 140.  
2. The destination inspection fee shall be the same amount as the inspection fee 
levied for unregistered commodities  and shall not be applicable for consignments 
whose total cost in freight value is less than US$ 1300. 
 
3. Where a sample is to be subjected to laboratory analysis, the importer shall pay 
charges for the analysis as may be determined by the laboratory that car ries out the 
analysis.  
 
4. The release under seal fees shall be US$ 100 or the equivalent in Uganda 
Shillings.  
 
5. Supervision of rework fees shall be US$ 100 per day or the equivalent in 
Uganda shillings.  
 
6. Factory inspection fees under the Pre - export verification of conformity 
Exemption program shall be US$ 100 or the equivalent in Uganda shillings.   
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7. Verification at owner’s premises shall be US$ 100 or the equivalent in Uganda 
Shillings.