G/TBT/N/UGA/1654  
21 July 2022  
(22-5542) Page: 1/3 
Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade  Original:  English  
 
  
NOTIFICATION  
The following notification is being circulated in accordance with Article 10.6  
 
1. Notifying Member:  UGANDA  
If applicable, name of local government involved (Article 3.2 and 7.2):   
2. Agency responsible:   
Uganda National Bureau of Standards  
Plot 2 -12 ByPass Link, Bweyogerere Industrial and Business Park  
P.O. Box 6329  
Kampala, Uganda  
Tel: +(256) 4 1733 3250/1/2  
Fax: +(256) 4 1428 6123  
E-mail: info@unbs.go.ug  
Website: https://www.unbs.go.ug  
Name and address (including telephone and fax numbers , email  and website 
addresses, if available) of agency or authority designated to handle comments 
regarding the notification shall be indicated if different from above:   
3. Notified under Article 2.9.2 [X], 2.10.1 [  ], 5.6.2 [X], 5.7.1 [  ], 3.2 [  ], 7.2 [  ], 
other:  
4. Products covered (HS or CCCN where applicable, otherwise national tariff 
heading. ICS numbers may be provided in addition, where applicable):  Animal or 
vegetable fertilisers, whether or not mixed together or chemically treated; fertilisers 
produce d by the mixing or chemical treatment of animal or vegetable products. (HS 
code(s): 3101); Fertilizers (ICS code(s): 65.080)  
5. Title, number of pages and language(s) of the notified document:  DUS 1576: 
2022, Biofertilizers — Specification, Second Edition ; (18 page(s), in English)  
6. Description of content:  This Draft Uganda Standard specifies requirements, sampling 
and test methods for biofertilizers. This standard does not include requirements for 
conventional chemical fertilizers.  
Biofertilizers are products containing carrier based (solid or liquid) living microorganisms 
which are agriculturally useful in terms for instance of nitrogen fixation, phosphorus 
solubilisation or nutrient mobilization, to increase the productivity of the  soil and/or crop. 
Biofertilizers are most commonly referred to the use of soil microorganisms to increase 
the availability and uptake of mineral nutrients for plants.  
Whether the existence of a microorganism increases the growth of plants by making 
nutrie nts more available or replacing soil nutrients or increasing plant access to nutrient, 
as long as the nutrient status of the plant has been enhanced by the microorganisms, the 
substance that was applied to the plant or soil containing the microorganisms, c an be 
characterized as a biofertilizers.  
Biofertilizers, known as microbial products, act as nutrient suppliers and soil conditioners 
that lower agricultural burden and conserve the environment. Good soil condition is G/TBT/N/UGA/1654  
 
- 2 - 
 
  imperative to increased crop production, as well as human and/or animal health welfare. 
Thus, the materials used to sustain good soil condition, are treated as environmental 
matters. However, there are still some problems to be met on the use of microbial 
products. More precise qualit y control must be made in favour of the customers. With this 
in mind, we will do our best to develop better production techniques and to improve the 
management system for microbial products.  
Although the effects of biofertilizers are different among nation s due to variances in 
climate and soil conditions, the importance of biofertilizers on environmental conservation 
in the 21st century must not be ignored. In the same manner, various biotechnologies 
should be accepted for increasing the biofertilizers effe cts with concern for the 
environment.  
7. Objective and rationale, including the nature of urgent problems where 
applicable:  The objective of this standard is to ensure that biofertilizers on the market 
are appropriately tested through the quality criteria  provided while ensuring that farmers 
obtain only certified products and as well aid the industry in the manufacture of quality 
biofertilizers. This standard will also promote the safe use of biofertilizers and promote 
fair trade.; Consumer information, la belling; Prevention of deceptive practices and 
consumer protection; Protection of human health or safety; Protection of animal or plant 
life or health; Protection of the environment; Quality requirements; Reducing trade 
barriers and facilitating trade; Cos t saving and productivity enhancement  
8. Relevant documents:   
1. US EAS 38, Labelling of pre -packaged foods — General requirements;  
2. US ISO 4832, Microbiology of food and animal feeding stuffs - Horizontal method 
for the enumeration of coliforms - Colony -count technique;  
3. US ISO 6579 -1, Microbiology of the food chain — Horizontal method for the 
detection, enumeration and serotyping of Salmonella — Part 1: Detection of 
Salmonella spp;  
4. ISO 7251, Microbiology of food and animal feeding stuffs — Horizontal method 
for the detection and enumeration of presumptive Escherichia coli — Most 
probable number technique;  
5. ISO 10390, Soil, treated bio -waste and sludg e – Determination of PH; 
6. ISO 11465, Soil quality — Determination of dry matter and water content on a 
mass basis — Gravimetric method;  
7. IS 9138:2009, Azotobacter chroococcum inoculants – Specification  
8. IS 14806:2008, Azospirillum inoculants – Specification.  
9. IS 14807:2000, Phosphate -solubilizing bacterial inoculant – Specification.  
10. Guidelines for Registration of Biofertilizers in Sub Saharan Africa 2013, The 
African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF). Simiyu –Wafukho S., Cargele 
Masso;. Nang‟ayo N., 2013  
11. Manure bio stabilization by effective microorganisms as a way to improve its 
agronomic value, D. Hidalgo, F. Corona & J.M. Martín -Marroquín. Biomass 
Conversion and Bio refinery (2022)  
9. Proposed date of adoption:  To be determined  
Proposed date of entry into force:  To be determined  
10. Final date for comments:  60 days from notification  G/TBT/N/UGA/1654  
 
- 3 - 
 
  11. Texts available from:  National enquiry point [X] or address, telephone and fax 
numbers and email and website addresses, if available , of other body:   
Uganda National Bureau of Standards  
Plot 2 -12 ByPass Link, Bweyogerere Industrial and Business Park  
P.O. Box 6329  
Kampala, Uganda  
Tel: +(256) 4 1733 3250/1/2  
Fax: +(256) 4 1428 6123  
E-mail: info@unbs. go.ug  
Website: https://www.unbs.go.ug  
https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2022/TBT/UGA/22_4842_00_e.pdf