By Spy Uganda
The Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) has started implementing the Inter-Laboratory Comparison program, which is aimed at reducing time wasted as businessmen wait for results from government laboratories before they can starting transacting in their products.
According to Mariam Nalwoga, the UNBS Principal Certification Officer, the Inter-Laboratory Comparison program is aimed at identifying companies with laboratories that conform to the standards of UNBS laboratories, hence instead of waiting in long queues for their samples to be tested, such companies will be allowed to submit results from sampled tested in their own laboratories. It is in essence a Measurement Discipline For Laboratories.
“For UNBS to use your test results, you need to be certified by UNBS. Whether you are government or private lab, for UNBS to use your results, we need to be sure that you are following ISO/IEC 17025:2017,” said Patricia Bageine Ejalu, the UNBS Deputy Executive Director (ED)-Standards.
Introducing the program to all businessmen and women in Uganda, Nalwoga tweeted on Tuesday July 28th, 2020 thus; “The first round of the Inter-Laboratory Comparison (ILC) Program is ON!!!
Does your organization have a laboratory? UNBS is engaging you NOW via ZOOM. Register to be part of the engagement here
UNBS @UNBSug.”
She added that; “UNBS does laboratory recognition to; Support the product certification scheme, Level the ground in trade, Consumer protection and safety, it’s a basis for EAC designation of testing labs.”
Nalwoga also revealed that; “UNBS established a lab recognition scheme to recognize both private and government laboratories in the country to increase access to competent testing facilities and the testing of samples for purposes of supporting the Product Certification Scheme.
Benefits of participating in the Inter-Laboratory Comparison Program for businesses;
-Business opportunity to invest in product testing.
-Creates a level playing ground for all laboratories in the same testing capacity.”
She noted that UNBS grants licenses to such manufacturers who have demonstrated capability of producing goods on a continuous basis as per relevant Ugandan Standards and East African.
For products to be certified, they have to be tested in the manufacturer’s labs. Testing, being a necessary adjunct to product quality evaluation, the need for making available required competent testing facilities arises.”
