The Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) has warned traders and manufacturers that they are legally responsible for ensuring that all products sold to consumers meet the required quality and safety standards.
Sylvia Kirabo, Head of Marketing and Public Relations at UNBS, said the law holds anyone involved in the manufacturing, distribution, sale, or possession of goods for sale accountable if the products fail to meet the established standards.
She emphasized that compliance is not only the responsibility of manufacturers but also of traders who handle the products before they reach consumers.
Kirabo explained that while manufacturers may produce goods that meet the required standards, some dishonest traders compromise product quality by adulterating them or mixing them with lower-quality items in shops and stores.
Such practices, she noted, expose consumers to significant health and safety risks.
Daniel Arorwa, Head of Market Surveillance at UNBS, said the fight against substandard goods requires a coordinated effort involving regulators, manufacturers, traders, and consumers.
He urged members of the public to always check whether products have been certified before purchasing them.
Arorwa warned that some products on the market, particularly certain cosmetics containing harmful substances such as hydroquinone, can pose serious health risks, including cancer.
He said consumers should remain vigilant and report suspected substandard products to the authorities.
UNBS also encouraged traders to regularly verify and calibrate their weighing scales through the bureau’s metrology verification camps to ensure accuracy in trade.
Those who fail to comply with the verification requirements risk enforcement action.
The bureau further called on the media to continue raising public awareness about standards while maintaining responsible reporting practices that protect the identities of affected individuals.
