High cost of certification and limited UNBS capacity
Review UNBS certification procedures and policy so products derived from the same raw material are certified together
Implementation is underway.
Where this stands
Batch certification and the PDM fee discount are in place; the same-raw-material rule itself is not yet changed.
Why this reform was agreed
UNBS certification fees remain prohibitive for SMEs, particularly because each sub-product under a single brand requires separate certification. A processor producing different types of crisps from the same Irish potatoes — plain, salted, spiced — must pay separately to certify each product, even though they are derived from the same raw material.
Ongoing and planned interventions
UNBS has introduced Batch Certification, which encourages SMEs to apply as a group or through cooperatives rather than as individuals, reducing the cost of certification where products are in the same value chain. Certification fees have been reduced by 50% for Parish Development Model beneficiaries engaged in value addition, easing access to the Q-Mark. UNBS has also decentralised certification by opening regional offices in Gulu, Mbale and Mbarara.
Progress updates
No progress updates recorded yet
Updates are published as the lead institution confirms movement on this action.