(JUBA) – The South Sudan National Bureau of Standards (SSNBS) has warned that importers bringing substandard goods into the country risk losing their business licences.
The announcement came days after the Bureau ordered the return of three trucks carrying maize grain and beans deemed unfit for human consumption to Uganda.
Gloria Nyoka Joseph, the Executive Director of the SSNBS, said on Wednesday that any company importing products that fail to meet the required standards would face both licence withdrawal and confiscation of goods.
“It is important to take action and send these consignments back. If a company repeats this offence several times, we have the right to withdraw their import or export licence. You cannot continue doing what is not acceptable,” she said.
She stressed that the Bureau would not tolerate the importation of goods considered unsafe for human consumption.
“We give warnings, but when companies repeat too many times, their licences will be withdrawn,” she added.
According to Nyoka, the SSNBS is mandated to ensure standardisation and conformity through testing, quality assurance and certification of both food and non-food items. She said consignments that are harmful for human consumption are returned to their countries of origin because destroying them inside South Sudan could create environmental and public health risks.
“When we reject consignments, it is because we have verified that they are not safe for consumption. Destroying them locally can also damage the environment and later affect human health. That is why such goods must go back,” Nyoka explained.
The Bureau operates under the East African Standards framework known as the SQMT Act, which allows non-compliant products to be re-exported.
Nyoka noted that there has been progress in reducing the entry of poor quality goods into South Sudan. Since 2023, compliance levels have improved to between 60 and 70 percent. She attributed the progress to upgraded equipment, tighter regulations and improved staff capacity.
She also urged consumers to play a role by reporting counterfeit, expired or substandard products to the Bureau’s offices to ensure that unsafe goods do not reach the market.
Standards and Enforcement Progress
| Year | Compliance Level with Import Standards | Key Action Taken |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Below 50% | Limited equipment and staff capacity |
| 2023 | 60–70% | Upgraded testing equipment and stronger regulations |
| 2025 | Ongoing monitoring | Stricter enforcement and consumer reporting encouraged |
