Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) has reduced the cost of product certification to support Build Uganda-Buy Uganda (BUBU) and help enterprises recover from devastating effects of Covid-19 on their businesses, according to the authority.
Sylvia Kirabo, the head public relations at UNBS told The Nile Post that they have phased out some of the charges which were previously being levied on enterprises seeking certification of their products.
These include initial audit fees of Shs 250,000 and surveillance audit fees of Shs 250,000.
She said that UNBS this month started to conduct the certification and surveillance audits on enterprises seeking to acquire the quality mark free of charge.
"Micro and small enterprises will now only pay certification fees of Shs 500,000 while medium and large enterprises will pay Shs1,000,000 to be issued with a permit to use the quality mark, valid for one year (12 months)," she said.
Kirabo explained the enterprises will continue to pay for laboratory testing fees depending on the parameters to be analyzed for their individual products.
However, enterprises involved in the manufacturing of bottled water, alcoholic beverages excluding wine and carbonated and non-carbonated soft drinks will pay certification fees of Shs1,000,000 per brand because of the additional regulatory input required to monitor their safety and quality before being put on the market.
Kirabo said the intervention is aimed at promoting implementation of quality standards by enterprises and help MSMEs and the private Sector to recover from the devastating effects of Covid-19 on their businesses.
UNBS has also extended the payment period from seven days to 21 days from date of payment notice, however, all fees are paid through Uganda Revenue Authority (URA).
