(NIMULE, EASTERN EQUATORIA COUNTY) – The South Sudan National Bureau of Standards (SSNBS) has stepped up its enforcement of quality checks at the country’s main entry points, with recent inspections at the Nimule border post leading to the rejection and re-export of consignments that failed to meet safety and quality requirements.
According to the SSNBS, the routine inspections are carried out daily at designated ports of entry across South Sudan. Officials say the aim is to safeguard public health and ensure only safe and high quality goods are allowed into the market.
During the latest checks, two trucks loaded with maize flour and maize grains were re-exported to their country of origin after laboratory results confirmed aflatoxin levels above the limits considered safe for human consumption.
In another case, a truck carrying beans was denied entry after inspectors found live insect infestation in the consignment, making it unfit for trade and consumption.
Aflatoxins are toxins produced by certain fungi and are known to pose serious health risks if consumed in large quantities. The SSNBS said such contaminated food items could endanger lives and undermine consumer confidence in the market if not properly regulated.
The Bureau stressed that these actions were in line with its mandate to protect consumers, promote fair trade practices, and prevent substandard products from entering South Sudanese markets.
Officials further noted that enforcement at Nimule, the busiest border crossing between South Sudan and Uganda, is critical as it serves as the main gateway for food and goods entering the country.
In a statement, the SSNBS reaffirmed its commitment to maintain strict checks, adding that the health and safety of citizens remain its top priority.
The SSNBS urged importers and traders to ensure that goods brought into South Sudan comply with both national and international standards, warning that non compliant consignments will continue to face re-export or outright rejection.
