The Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNB) has scheduled March 15, 2019 as the resumption of the inspection of imported used vehicles under the Pre-Export Verification of Conformity (PVoC) Standards programme where used vehicles are tested in the country of origin for road worthiness as well as health and environment concerns before being shipped into Uganda.
According to UNBS, Executive Director, Dr. Ben Manyindo, all used motor vehicle importers, dealers and the general public are supposed to observe the latest update.
He said in a public notice that used motor vehicles imported into Uganda are assessed for roadworthiness which includes checking for radiation before shipment.
“UNBS is mandated to protect the health and safety of the public and our environment through the implementation and enforcement of compulsory Uganda Standards,” he said.
The vehicles he said, must meet other regulatory requirements including the 15 years age limit passed recently by parliament.
PVoC is an inspection and verification programme carried out on goods by appointed inspection agents in the country of export. Verification of compliance to technical regulations and standards is provided for in Article 5 of the World Organization (WTO) Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT). PVoC was designed in accordance to the provisions of Article 5 of the TBT Agreement and in compliance with the notification requirements of WTO.
The objective of PVoC is to minimize the risk of unsafe and substandard goods entering Ugandan and protect consumers against dangerous, shoddy and substandard imported products.