Non-Tariff Barriers

Complaint

Complaint number

NTB-000-906  

NTB Type

2.13. Issues related to Pre-Shipment Inspections  

Complaint

Uganda does not recognize the Calibration Certificate issued by the Weight and Measures Agent (WMA) for oil tank from URT: Republic of Uganda does not accept the Calibration Certificate of tanks from URT. As a result, our traders are forced to undergo recalibration by Ugandan counterpart Authority (Uganda Bureau of Standards) at a charge odd USD 230. This increases the cost of doing business. The trader paid Uganda shillings 2,655,600. It was stated that the certificate from URT is valid for the period of one year.  

Progress update note

1. During the Sectoral Committee on Trade Uganda reported that it will consult and report back during SCTIFI of May 2019.
2.During the Regional Monitoring Committee held on 15th October, 2019, Uganda reported that the NTB was discussed in the EAC Standards Committee and it was recommended that a technical committee should be established to harmonise the the calibration procedures for the tankers and also the fees payable to the service provided. Uganda will report on the progress during the next Regional Monitoring Committee Meeting. Nevertheless, Tanzania is concerned about the charge and requested Uganda to consider and waive it.
3. As per Regional Committee Meeting held on 15th October, 2019, it was agreed that Uganda would provide progress made during SCTIFI meeting to be held in November, 2019, In addition Tanzania requests Uganda to recognize calibration certificate issued by Weights and Measures (WMA) as per SQMT Act, 2006. And also to consider and waive charges / fees.
4. During the RMC meeting held on 10 August 2020, Uganda reported that the law in Uganda requires a verification in Uganda. There is no EAC harmonized regulation in that area and unfortunately, UNBS registers over 95% failure rate on verification of such tankers.This matter was already raised at EAMET and resolved to constitute a technical team from all the member states to review procedures in place. This was not done and URT did not participate in subsequent meetings where action was to be determined. The fees rules provide the scheme for applicable fees. Regarding the payment of the trader paid Uganda shillings 2,655,600, there may be need to substantiate and investigate.
5.The SCTIFI meeting held in September 2020 agreed that the concerned calibration institutions undertake a peer assessment to establish discrepancies and report to the Secretariat by February, 2021.
6.The 24th EAMET meeting held from 29th to 30th September 2020 reported that Peer Review of Road Tanker Calibration/Verification and Visits to the Partner States not yet undertaken due to lack of funds to undertake the activity. EAMET rescheduled the activity for January 2021 and recommended EASC to request the EAC secretariat to mobilize funds for a committee of experts to undertake the activity.b The 23rd EASC Meeting held from 7th to 8th October 2020 directed EAC Secretariat to:
-lobby for funds in collaboration with the Partner States towards the implementation of the EAMET work plan especially training on calibration/verification of tankers and peer assessment considering related NTBs; and
-fully engage weight and measure the institution of the United Republic of Tanzania to participate in EASC activities.
7. The Tanzania NMC meeting that was held in April 2021 noted that this NTB has been outstanding for a long time because the two Partner States are yet to meet and recommended that the EAC Secretariat coordinates the two Partner States to meet and undertake a peer assessment.
8.The RMC meeting held in May 2021 noted that the issues were discussed by the metrology Subcommittee (EAMET) and the 23rd EASC Directed the EAC Secretariat to engage Weights and Measure Tanzania on their participation in the subcommittee activities and coordinate the peer assessment to resolve the differences.
EAC Secretariat on 31st March 2021, held a meeting with Weights and Measures Tanzania on the participation in EAC Metrology activities. Peer assessment planned and to be undertaken by 30th June, 2021.
9.The Secretariat has convened peer assessment meetings scheduled as follows:
(i) 26th to 29th October 2021: peer assessment in Tanzania.
(ii) 3rd-6th Nov 2021: peer assessment in Uganda
10. On 14 June 2022, the EAC Secretariat reported that:
Peer assessment was conducted in October and November agreed to harmonize the calibration certificates. The NTB will be addressed when the two Partner States harmonize and implement the harmonized administrative procedures on road tankers as recommended by the EAMET Report of April 2022.
11.As recommended by the EAMET Report of April 2022. The meeting urged the Republic of Uganda to consider mutual recognition of the calibration certificate as the two Partner States await the harmonization. At the Trade Committee, the meeting was informed that Peer assessment was done, gaps identified and action plan for implementation agreed and approved by Standards Committee The meeting urged the EACS to Fast track the harmonization of administrative procedures to resolve the matter. During the 41st SCTIFI the Secretariat informed the meeting that it had convened a meeting in February 2023 to harmonize calibration procedures for road tankers.
12. The 34th RMC noted that another meeting had been convened to take place in Dar Es Salaam in June 2023  

Policy or regulatory NTB

No 

Location

Uganda: Uganda Weight and Measures Authority (Government institution)  

Reporting Country or Region

Tanzania  

Country specific trade issue

No  

Date of incident

2019-04-05  

Status

In process  

Product Description

Computer-assisted translation

• English
• Arabic
• French
• Portuguese

×

Close window

 

Total value

0  

Date reported

2019-10-04 10:38  

Modified

2020-09-10 21:18