The Pre-Export Verification of Conformity (Pvoc) Programme
The Pre-Export Verification of Conformity (Pvoc) Programme
The Pre-Export Verification of Conformity (Pvoc) Programme
OF STANDARDS (UNBS)
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
16
Appointed PVOC Service Providers
for Used Motor Vehicles
UNBS has appointed the following two
conformity assessment agencies for
inspection of used Motor vehicles:
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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
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PVOC FEES STRUCTURE FOR
USED MOTOR VEHICLES
UK USD 200
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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
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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: [email protected]
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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: [email protected]
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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: [email protected]
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: [email protected]
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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 protected]
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SCT MANAGEMENT
The importer/agent shall request for temporary release by sending an
email to the SCT liaison office ([email protected]) 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.
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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.
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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
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SCT management of Consignment(s) covered by
mandatory standards and can benefit from the
threshold procedure
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UNBS PVOC DESK
CONTACT
Namara Innocent
Head PVOC Desk
Email: [email protected]
Telephone :0772658088
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END
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