ED UNBS Ebiru urges EAC member states to fast-track the harmonization of more East Africa standards and processes to facilitate the free movement of goods.
Drake Nyamugabwa
Harmonization of standards at the regional level continues to be a major activity of the Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS). A study undertaken by the East African Business Council (EABC) has shown that between 2010-2016 harmonization of standards of some goods within the EAC led to increasing in intra-regional trade value by 18% from $291.2m to $343 for selected products that included soap and cleaning agents, alcoholic beverages, steel products, edible fats and oils, sugar confectionaries, fish and fishery products.
UNBS while participating in the EAC Standards Committee Meeting in Arusha has discussed the harmonization of Standards and Processes aimed at facilitating trade within the EAC region. UNBS delegation is led by the UNBS Executive Director David Livingstone Ebiru.
While giving in his submission at the EAC Standards Committee Meeting in Arusha pictured above, highlighted the importance of harmonizing processes and standards that he said will facilitate free movement of good and increased intra-regional trade in East Africa Community member states.
“We should have one test, one standard & one Mark for our goods to freely move across EAC Member States. The objective of EAC is to ensure we have free movement of goods & persons, so harmonization is key. " he said
In 2017, a committee of the East African Standards Committee noted that 40 draft standards were in the final stages of approval and had been circulated for public review and notified to World Trade Organization (WTO), and were due for approval. The committee also endorsed 107 international standards that had been referenced in the harmonized standards.
