UNBS comes to Capital Shoppers rescue over 'Halal Pork Sausage' case

The Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) has called upon all local manufacturers to comply with the labeling standards and desist from deceptive labeling of their products.

This was in response to an earlier case involving Capital Shoppers supermarket where specific people claimed they had labeled pork sausages with ‘Halal’.

The allegations were started by a one Kassim Kayira who claimed that he was dragging the supermarket to court for labeling pork sausages Halal.

However, UNBS claims they made inspections and did not find the allegations true.

“Following inspections done by the UNBS surveillance team at the said location, the pork sausages found did not have any Halal claims,” UNBS said in a statement.

“UNBS reiterates the call to have the labeling of all products under mandatory standards complying with the labeling standard and to be certified and issued with the UNBS Distinctive Mark before they are put on the market.”

UNBS says that products that should be mandatory for labeling include those that have a direct effect on the health of the user for example food, cosmetics, electronics and electro products, children’s toys, and many others.

“Key among the labeling requirements for pre-packaged foods is to have the name of the food declared on the label, the list of ingredients, the net contents and drained weights, the name and physical address of the manufacturer, packer, distributor, importer, exporter or vendor of the food, country of origin, Lot identification, Date marking ( production and expiry date), Storage instructions, instructions for use, Quantitative labeling of ingredients; all in the English language and/or any other official language used in the importing East African Partner state, as stated in the standard.”