The Trade Minister, Hon. Amelia Kyambadde revealed that following the ban on exports to Europe a week ago, government has embarked on the exercise of registering all those engaged in exporting fruits and vegetables to Europe with all those registered being awarded codes for proper identification.

The European Union faulted the quality of fruits and vegetables being sold on their market mainly from Uganda which they said contained many chemicals not accepted in Europe. Hon. Kyambadde noted that only those registered with government and provided with codes will be allowed to export fruits to Europe. Government will monitor them to ensure quality and the ban will be lifted after three weeks.

Meanwhile Uganda National Bureau of standards (UNBS) has launched the electronic web portal dubbed E-web portal that links it to URA; this tool will facilitate faster clearance of imports and help reduce on time spent hence being a great help to traders.

While launching the portal in Kampala today, the trade Minister, Amelia Kyambadde said, the system is fully furnished to create ease in removing trade barriers in Uganda and the region; and maintains that standards will still be enforced through this system.

The UNBS boss Ben Manyindo says this system will transform work from manual to automation and will help the government save more than UGX.100 million annually which was otherwise spent on paper work to clear goods.