EAST African manufacturers have raised concern over lack of standards in some cosmetic products which they say is negatively impacting on sales.
The East African Community (EAC) manufacturers observed that the products without standards cannot compete favourably on the international markets.
Simpson Birungi, managing director at Movit Cosmetics said since many products have no standards to benchmark on for quality assurance, their products are being shunned in other countries.
“We need to all adopt specific standards from European Union to enable us trade and remain competitive. This will enable us generate more revenue since our products’ geographical supply chain will not be limited to only EAC states,” explained Birungi
Birungi was recently making a presentation at Speke Hotel, Munyonyo on the key non-tariff barriers during the East Africa’s manufacturer’s summit.
The summit attracted the manufacturing industries with the goal of developing the element of challenges facing manufacturer’s across EAC member states.
Top on the agenda that manufacturers also noted was the bureaucratic multiple testing of the products in adherence to quality. They cited how products are tested at many points and after having passed the test, the same products are again subjected to other tests.
“We feel this is becoming more bureaucratic and time wasting as we transport our commodities to different markets. If possible, let us harmonious the East African standards body to conform to one form of tests,” said Birungi
According to the East African protocol, once a product has the Q mark, it means it is granted the free movement across member states without interruptions.
The concern of manufacturers comes at a time all EAC member states pushed for regional integration for more market opportunities.
Barbra Kansiime, the Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) publicist said most firms in the country are certified by the standards body.
In an interview with New Vision Kansiime said UNBS will adopt international standards and tailor the standards to suit Uganda’s market.
“We want our products to remain competitive and encourage firms whose products have no standards not to think UNBS has no standards because in our mandate, we adopt some standards where firms benchmark on for quality assurance,” said Kansiime
She said key on the standards body’s agenda is to increase awareness and sensitize sector by sector because of unique problems and ideas in different sectors.
Source: New Vision

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