MAAIF RESPONDS TO EU VOW TO BAN UG PEPPER EXPORTS

Licenses of traders attempting to export substandard horticultural products will be revoked in order to protect Uganda’s export interests. The measure was unveiled this morning by Agriculture Ministry (MAAIF) following a stern warning from the European Union about declining standards of Uganda’s exports, especially roses, fruits and vegetables. Agriculture Minister Vincent Bamulangaki Sempijja says Uganda’s exports are increasingly being blocked from entering the export market due to failure to meet standards. Sempijja said the rejection of Uganda’s export products has been caused by the presence of harmful organisms and excess pesticide residues. The most affected commodities include peppers (capsicum), Annona (Kitafeli) and roses. Sempijja told journalists at the Media Centre in Kampala on Tuesday that the government will be watching exporters, traders and farmers closely to ensure quality products at all levels. He says that Ugandan exporters will now be required to introduce their chain of farmers to ministry officials to be assisted in improving standards. Sempijja said that the ministry will stop the clearance of export consignments of any exporter with more than one interception by the European Union. Interception refers to how often the EU inspectors have found a particular exporter’s produce unsuitable for containing high levels of harmful pests and pesticide residues. Sempijja said he has already appointed a National Task Force comprising both private sector and technical staff to specifically guide compliance on exports and the development of strategies to ensure Ugandan products maintain the current markets, but also penetrate new niche markets. “The ministry is planning to procure equipment for analyzing pesticide residues to support export certification for compliance of pesticide residues,” he said. Sempijja added that MAAIF is developing and strengthening the online certification system with enhanced security features and training users, exporters, importers and inspectors in e-certification procedures. He underscored the importance of meeting EU market standards because it has become a benchmark for other countries, mainly Asia. According to a news report carried by Uganda Radio Network, Uganda stands to lose over $100m that it earns from the export of horticultural products annually in case Europeans locked us out over quality and safety concerns. Sempijja said that the government is cognizant that it must play a central role in promoting standards of export products because that is a major source of foreign earnings. He adds that these are some of the immediate action plans agreed upon by the European Union and World Trade Organization. The news story regarding the EU concerns over the quality of Ugandan pepper exports was first reported by Mulengera news in a story we published on Thursday 4^th April 2019. It was titled “Billions at stake as EU Bans Uganda Exports.”