G/SPS/N/UGA/201  
 
25 July 2022  
(22-5607) Page: 1/3 
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  Original: English  
 
  NOTIFICATION  
1. Notifying Member:  UGANDA  
If applicable, name of local government involved:   
2. Agency responsible:  Uganda National Bureau of Standards  
3. Products covered (provide tariff item number(s) as specified in national 
schedules deposited with the WTO; ICS numbers should be provided in addition, 
where applicable):  Animal or vegetable fertili zers, whether or not mixed together or 
chemically treated; fertili zers produced by the mixing or chemical treatment of animal or 
vegetable products (HS code(s): 3101); Fertilizers (ICS code(s): 65.080)  
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or practicable : 
[X] All trading partners   
[ ] Specific regions or countries:   
5. Title of the notified document:  DUS 1576: 2022, Biofertilizers — Specification, Second 
Edition . Language(s):  English . Number of pages:  18 
https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2022/SPS/UGA/22_4904_00_e.pdf  
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 
nutrients more available or replacing soil nutrients or increasing plant access to nutrient, 
as long as the nutrient status of the plant has bee n enhanced by the microorganisms, the 
substance that was applied to the plant or soil containing the microorganisms, can 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 
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 quality 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 th e 
management system for microbial products.  
Although the effects of biofertilizers are different among nations due to variances in 
climate and soil conditions, the importance of biofertilizers on environmental conservation 
in the 21st century must not be i gnored. In the same manner, various biotechnologies 
should be accepted for increasing the biofertilizers effects with concern for the 
environment.  G/SPS/N/UGA/201  
 
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  7. Objective and rationale: [  ] food safety, [  ] animal health, [X]  plant protection, 
[ ] protect humans fro m animal/plant pest or disease, [  ] protect territory from 
other damage from pests.   
8. Is there a relevant international standard? If so, identify the standard:  
[ ] Codex Alimentarius Commission (e.g.  title or serial number of Codex 
standard or related text) :  
[ ] World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) (e.g.  Terrestrial or Aquatic 
Animal Health Code, chapter number) :  
[ ] International Plant Protection Convention (e.g.  ISPM number) :  
[X] None  
Does this proposed regulation conform to the relev ant international standard?  
[ ] Yes   [  ] No 
If no, describe, whenever possible, how and why it deviates from the 
international standard:   
9. Other relevant documents and language(s) in which these are available:   
• Uganda Gazette  
• US EAS 38, Labelling of pre -packaged foods — General requirements  
• US ISO 4832, Microbiology of food and animal feeding stuffs - Horizontal method for 
the enumeration of coliforms - Colony -count technique  
• US ISO 6579 -1, Microbiology of the food chain — Horizontal meth od for the detection, 
enumeration and serotyping of Salmonella — Part 1: Detection of Salmonella spp; 
• ISO 7251, Microbiology of food and animal feeding stuffs — Horizontal method for the 
detection and enumeration of presumptive Escherichia coli  — Most prob able number 
technique  
• ISO 10390, Soil, treated bio -waste and sludge – Determination of PH 
• ISO 11465, Soil quality — Determination of dry matter and water content on a mass 
basis — Gravimetric method  
• IS 9138:2009, Azotobacter chroococcum inoculants – Specif ication  
• IS 14806:2008, Azospirillum inoculants – Specification  
• IS 14807:2000, Phosphate -solubilizing bacterial inoculant – Specification  
• Guidelines for Registration of Biofertilizers in Sub Saharan Africa 2013, The African 
Agricultural Technology Foundatio n (AATF). Simiyu –Wafukho S., Cargele Masso;. 
Nang‟ayo N., 2013  
• 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)  
(availabl e in English)  
10. Proposed date of adoption (dd/mm/yy) : To be determined.  
Proposed date of publication (dd/mm/yy) : To be determined.  
11. Proposed date of entry into force: [  ] Six months from date of publication , and/or  
(dd/mm/yy) : To be determined.  
[X] Trade facilitating measure   G/SPS/N/UGA/201  
 
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  12. Final date for comments: [X]  Sixty days from the date of circulation of the 
notification and/or (dd/mm/yy) : 23 September 2022  
Agency or authority designated to handle comments: [  ] National Notification 
Authority, [  ] National Enquiry Point. Address, fax number and e -mail address (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  
13. Text(s) available from: [  ] National Notification Authority, [  ] National Enquiry 
Point. Address, fax number and e -mail address (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