The Chief Executive Officer of the National Bureau of Standards, Mary Gordon Muortat, has said Ugandan authorities has destroyed 1,700 tons of impounded maize and flour consignment.
The National Bureau of Standards at the Nimule border reported that the organization had seized at least 1,700 tons of maize grains, maize flour, and wheat tested for high levels of aflatoxin in July.
Gordon said that the retest carried out by the Ugandan National Bureau of Standards was done under the observation of EAC experts.
“Few weeks ago, we heard the news that those consignments that South Sudan rejected were fully found to have high aflatoxin levels, B-1 specifically, and they are not fit for consumption and they have to be destroyed,” she said.
Gordon disclosed that the trading relationship between South Sudan and Uganda has turned to normal as a result of the disposal of the goods deemed harmful for human consumption.
“Those consignments are no longer there, we have destroyed them and now our trading between us and Uganda has improved a lot because now checking in is done thoroughly and nothing is entering in unless the sample is tested and checked by our staff.”
She said Ugandan authorities will carry out quality tests and issue certificates to its traders before the final shipment of goods into the country.
“Those consignments were destroyed and thankfully Uganda Bureau of Standard took this seriously and now they are making sure that all goods coming to South Sudan, especially sorghum and maize, are tested before being brought to South Sudan.”
