UGANDA NATIONAL BUREAU

OF STANDARDS (UNBS)

THE PRE-EXPORT VERIFICATION OF

CONFORMITY (PVOC) PROGRAMME

PRESENTED BY
NAMARA INNOCENT
HEAD PVOC DESK

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 Agenda
 What is PVoC
 Background
 Why PVoC
 Objectives of PVOC
 Categories of products subject to PVOC
 PVOC process
 What an importer have to do to get a COC
 Appointed PVOC service providers
 Routes for inspection
 Benefits
 Fees – UNBS
 Exemptions
 challenges
 Contacts of PVOC service providers
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 What is PVOC?
 Pre-Export Verification of Conformity
program(PVOC) is a conformity assessment
program to certify that products covered by
compulsory Uganda Standards imported into
Uganda comply with the applicable Uganda
Standards & Technical Regulations before
shipment into Uganda. Under the PVoC regime,
products to be imported undergo conformity
assessment in the country of origin/supply
(Exporting) and a Certificate of Conformity
(CoC) is issued demonstrating that the products
meet the applicable Uganda standards and 3

regulations.
 What is PVOC Cont’d
 Where the products fail to meet the
approved specifications, a Non-conformity
Report (NCR) is issued and such goods are
not allowed for importation into Uganda.

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 Background
Following an outcry by the general public on
substandard imported goods into Uganda and
the need to protect the consumers, UNBS
submitted a concept note to Cabinet.
PVoC for used motor vehicles begun in
September 2009 while for general goods
became fully operational in June 2013

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\ Background cont’d
 The UNBS Act CAP 327,Section 21 states
that:
 (1) No person shall import, distribute,
manufacture, sell or have in his or her
possession or control for sale or
distribution any commodity for which a
compulsory standard specification has been
declared unless the commodity conforms to
the compulsory standard specification.
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 Background Cont,d
 Section 43 of the UNBS Act, CAP
327,empowers the Minister to make
regulations to ease implementation of the
UNBS act.
 The Pre-Export Verification of
Conformity (PVoC) program is regulated
by the UNBS (Inspection and Clearance
of Imports) Regulations, 2018

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 Why PVOC?
 Limited capacity of UNBS (necessary to
keep product experts of every sort at
every border point);
 Testing capabilities are limited and the
assessment takes time, during which goods
are stored hence increasing costs of
storage and tied up capacity.
 It is even more difficult to track sub-
standard products when on the Ugandan
market
 Challenges of re-exporting or destroying8

substandard goods
 Objectives of PVOC
 To protect Consumers and the environment
by ensuring importation of only quality-
assured goods and preventing shipment into
Uganda of substandard and hazardous
products.
 To protect Uganda manufacturers from unfair
competition of cheaper imitations of
manufactured goods abroad and booster
confidence of investors whose industries are
currently under threat from the menace of
substandard goods 9
 Objectives of PVOC cont’d
 To reduce the cost of doing business by
reducing clearance time of imported goods
at ports of entry .
 To ensure value for money for consumers
and traders by preventing consumers from
spending their hard earned money on
worthless and harmful goods that do not
last.
 Improve tax revenue collection by
preventing deceptive practices like
misdeclaration of type and quantities of 10
 Objectives of PVoC cont’d
 To create a better business environment for
firms dealing in genuine quality and safe
products thus bolstering the economy by
increasing consumer confidence through
trade in better quality and safer.
 The efforts as well as resources of UNBS
that would be channeled to testing imports,
which amount to 60% of the total number of
samples tested, would be diverted to testing
products meant for export thereby
promoting the growth of exports.
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 Objectives of PVoC cont’d
 Optimal use of resources by UNBS where
the resources saved through PVoC can
be channeled into market surveillance,
promotion of quality standards and
competitiveness in small scale industries
in Uganda.

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 CATEGORIES OF PRODUCTS SUBJECT TO
PVoC
 This applies to all products with mandatory
Uganda standards including:
 Electrical and electronic products ,
 Toys,
 automotive products,
 chemical commodities,
 mechanical materials and gas appliances,
 textile, leather, plastic and rubber,
 furniture ,
 paper and stationery,
 protective safety equipment,
• Food and Food Products 13
• Used motor vehicles.
 WHAT DOES AN IMPORTER HAVE
TO DO TO GET A COC
 Importer purchases Uganda Standards from
UNBS for the products regularly imported so
as to know the standards requirements
 Before planning to make an order or buy the
goods abroad, the importer contacts any of
the PVOC service providers in Uganda to be
guided on the physical location and contact of
their office abroad, nearest to where the
items are procured
 The importer can also Contact UNBS, or
visits UNBS website to get contacts for the 14

PVoC Service Providers .

 WHAT DOES AN IMPORTER HAVE
TO DO TO GET A COC Cont’d

• Place an order for goods from your

preferred supplier (A pro-forma invoice is
issued).
• Contact the PVoC Service provider in the
country of export. If not easily accessible,
contact the Uganda Country Office or the
PVoC Desk at UNBS.
• Fill in a request for certification/ inspection
form with accurate information from the
Pro-forma Invoice as well as location of the
supplier of goods or factory. 15

• Attach test reports, quality documents and

 Appointed PVOC Service
Providers
 UNBS has appointed the following
three conformity assessment
agencies for inspection of general
goods :
 TUV Rheinland
 Intertek International
 SGS

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 Appointed PVOC Service Providers
for Used Motor Vehicles
UNBS has appointed the following two
conformity assessment agencies for
inspection of used Motor vehicles:

1.East Africa Automobile Service Co.

Ltd

2. Quality Inspection Services Inc.

Japan

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 PVoC PROCESS
• Request for Inspection by exporter/Importer
to PVOC service provider
• The attachments to the request include test
reports that are not older than one (1) year
for food products and two (2) years for non-
food products from the date of issue. In case
there are no test reports,PVoC service
provider shall draw samples for testing.
• Testing of samples shall be performed by an
accredited or recognized laboratory based
on ISO/IEC 17025 standard. 18
 PVoC PROCESS cont’d
• Quality documents such as ISO 9001:2015
• A copy of the Invoice
 documentary check by PVOC service
provider
 Inspection and testing
 Review of the inspection report and test
results
 Issuance of a COC/NCR

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PVOC FLOW CHART

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Routes to Shipment Certification
 FEES STRUCTURE FOR GENERAL
GOODS
 Route A: Un registered Suppliers or
Manufacturers- 0.5% FOB
 Route B: Registered Suppliers or
Manufacturers- 0.45% FOB
 Route C: Licensed/Certified Products- 0.25%
FOB
 Route D: Consolidated cargo- 0.5% FOB
 Min fee: USD 235

 Max fee: USD 3000

 The above fees are net and exclude testing,

registration and certification costs

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 PVOC FEES STRUCTURE FOR
USED MOTOR VEHICLES

COUNTRY INSPECTION FEES PAYABLE

Japan USD 140

UK USD 200

UAE USD 125

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 GOODS EXEMPTED FROM PVoC
 Goods whose FOB value does not exceed USD 2000
 Government Project specific goods
 Raw materials for manufacturing not for resale
 Diplomatic cargo
 Personal effects of returning residents and
expatriates
 Commodities from EAC with Quality Mark
 Industry machinery and spare parts not for resale
 Classified Military,Police and prisons hardware and
equipment

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 REQUIREMENTS FOR ACQUIRING PVOC
EXEMPTION LETTERS
 REQUIREMENTS FOR PVOC EXEMPTION
REQUESTS BY MANUFACTURING COMPANIES
CERTIFIED BY UNBS
 Official Letter requesting for PVOC exemption
should be accompanied with the following:
 Copy of valid permit for use of quality mark
 List of products to be exempted
 Copies of IM4 customs entries
 attach valid permit for use of the UNBS distinctive
mark
 Requests for annual exemptions need not to be
accompanied with IM4 customs entries 25
 REQUIREMENTS FOR ACQUIRING PVOC
EXEMPTION LETTERS
 REQUIREMENTS FOR EXEMPTION REQUESTS BY
MANUFACTURERS NOT CERTIFIED BY UNBS
IMPORTING RAW MATERIALS/INDUSTRIAL SPARE
PARTS IMPORTING FIRST TIME
 Official Letter requesting for PVOC exemption
 Evidence of manufacturing
 Registration by UMA/Uganda Investment
Authority/USSIA
 List of products to be exempted
 Relevant customs IM4 entry

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 REQUIREMENTS FOR EXEMPTION REQUESTS
FOR GOVERNMENT PROJECT SPECIFIC GOODS

 Official Letter requesting for PVOC exemption

 Evidence of the ongoing Uganda government project
(MOU or government contract)
 Confirmation letter from the relevant Uganda
Government Ministry/Department
 Copies of IM4 customs entries for specific requests
 List of products to be exempted
 A copy of an inbuilt or demonstrated Quality
Assurance System that guarantees conformity to
Uganda Standards for the Government project
specific commodities
 Signed letter of undertaking with UNBS 27
 HANDLING OF GOODS ON ARRIVAL
 Goods accompanied with a COC are
inspected and if they meet
requirements are released.
 Goods issued with a Non Conformity
Report (NCR) will not to be permitted
into the Country and will be seized if
shipped to Uganda .
 Goods arriving at the Entry point
without a Certificate of Conformity
(CoC) will be subject to destination
inspection
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 BENEFITS OF THE PVoC PROGRAM
 Reduction of sub-standard goods in the
market
 Reduction in risks for the general public from
hazardous consumer products
 Reduce importation costs - e.g. demurrage
charges arising as a result of goods being held
at the port of entry awaiting test results.
 Eliminate the loses to importers which would
result from having to re-export products found
not to comply with the technical regulations
and standards requirements.
 Trade Facilitation – faster and straightforward
clearance of goods.
 Reduced fraud on the side of importers
especially when imports are substituted with
products of wrong specifications.
 Optimal use of resources saved from PVOC
program to build capacity 29
 Challenges
 Inadequate resources to undertake continuous
sensitization
 Communication gap between the exporter and the
importer in some cases often results in delays.
 Unmanned stations due to inadequate staff hence
some goods are cleared without any UNBS
Intervention
 Importers of Groupage Cargo experience delays due
to lack of test reports
 A number of Ugandan importers buy very small
quantities from unregulated open market
places/retail outlets. This makes traceability of the
origin of substandard items difficult.

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 CONTACT DETAILS FOR TUV
RHEINLAND

Ms.Elizabeth Birungi
Liaison Officer
Government Inspections and International
Trade
Plot 17,Mariba Building, Golf Course Road
Kololo, Kampala, Uganda
Mob: +256 782 055 108
Email: Elizabeth.Birungi@tuv.com

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 CONTACT DETAILS FOR
INTERTEK INTERNATIONAL
LIMITED

Ms Christine Owino
General Manager
 UAP Nakawa Business Park
Block A 2nd Floor
Plot 3 - 5, Portbell Road, 
Kampala. Uganda  
 Telephone:+256414231990
Fax: +256 414 232 990
          0756 720547

 Email: info.ugandapvoc@intertek.com
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 CONTACT DETAILS FOR
SGS UGANDA LIMITED

 Ms.Barbra Sayuni
Contract Manager
 1st Floor Block B
Plot 1, Kololo Hill Drive
P.O. Box 63 ,Kampala – Uganda
 Tel: +256 392 739 966 / +256 204 971 003
 Direct line : +256 204 971 008
 Mobile: +256 794 974 408 / +256 772 739 968
 Email: barbra.sayuni@sgs.com 
 Website: www.ug.sgs.com 
 PVOC SERVICE PROVIDERS FOR
USED MOTOR VEHICLES
 1.East Africa Automobile Service Co. Ltd
Japan:
HEAD OFFICE
1 Chome-20-5 Rinkan, Yamato-shi,
Kanagawa-ken 242-0003 Japan
Telephone: +81 046 205 7611
Fax: +81 046 205 7610
Email: info@eaa-s.jp

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 PVOC SERVICE PROVIDERS FOR
USED MOTOR VEHICLES Cont,d
 Quality Inspection Services INC. Japan
(QISJ)
 YCC1608,Daikoku-futo,Tsurumi,
 Yokohama, Tokyo, Japan,
 230-0054,
 Tel.+81-45-500-6033
 Fax. +81-45-500-6034
 Email.info@qisjp.com
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 SCT MANAGEMENT
 The importer/agent shall request for temporary release by sending an
email to the SCT liaison office (sct@unbs.go.ug) including scanned
copies of single administrative documents, Bill of lading, packing list,
invoice, CoC, exemption letter, certification permit and fully filled
commitment form (Appendix) as appropriate.

 The liaison officer or the designated officer(s) shall review and verify
sent documents for their accuracy & authenticity on various platforms
such as; KEBS website for KEBS permits; TBS website for TBS permits;
Service Providers’ website/Databases for COCs/CRWs etc.

 The liaison officer or the designated officer(s) shall advise the

Importer/agent by email copying PIRI and the border Inspectors
detailing the required missing documents in case of any exclusion or
clarification needed.

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SCT MANAGEMENT Cont’d
 The liaison officer or the designated officer(s) shall re-
route the entry to blue in Asycuda world upon fulfilling
the requirements as stipulated below.

 Consignment(s) covered by mandatory standards

are accompanied by a valid and traceable CoC or
Certification Permit or PVOC Exemption Letter. Note:
Where there is a harmonized standard, the permit for
the products has to clearly indicate that on the
permit.

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 SCT MANAGEMENT Cont’d
 The liaison officer or the designated officer(s)
shall verify the documents to confirm
authenticity and traceability of the CoC or
Certification Permit or PVOC exemption to
the consignment in question.

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 Consignment(s) covered by mandatory standards and
not accompanied with CoC, EAC Permit or
Exemption Letter

 The liaison officer or the designated officer(s)

shall verify the documents and generate a PRN
for Destination Inspection (DI) including PVoC
surcharge (if applicable) to the Importer/Agent of
the queried commodity (ies) alongside a fully
filled commitment form.
 The Inspectors at the border shall generate a
PRN for testing and any other related fees during
physical Inspection on arrival at the border.

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SCT management of Consignment(s) covered by
mandatory standards and can benefit from the
threshold procedure

 The client shall fill in the threshold procedure and

send to SCT liaison Officer or designated Officer via
email who will handle accordingly.

Handling SCT consignments at the border entry points

 The Clearing Agent shall present documents to our
Inspectors at the border who will review the documents,
compare with the captured information in the database
then undertake inspection in accordance with UNBS
(Inspection and clearance) of Imports Regulations 2018
to complete the process in e-portal.
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 Cont’d
 NOTE: FAILURE TO PRESENT
CONSIGNMENT FOR PHYSICAL
VERIFICATION TO OUR BORDER
INSPECTORS TANTAMOUNT TO AN
OFFENCE CHARGED IN COURTS OF LAW OF
UGANDA AS PER UNBS ACT, SECTION 26 (1)
(I,J &K)

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 UNBS PVOC DESK
CONTACT
 Namara Innocent
 Head PVOC Desk
 Email: innocent.namara@unbs.go.ug
 Telephone :0772658088

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END

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