Government urges businesses to comply with national standards

JUBA – South Sudan’s minister of trade and industry, Atong Kuol Manyang, called on traders and businesses to adhere to national standards and safety regulations to ensure the quality of imported goods, the government said on Monday.

Speaking at a seminar on pre-verification of conformity to standards (PVoC) in Juba on Monday, Manyang said the government was committed to enforcing regulations to protect consumers.

“I would like to emphasize the importance of adhering to national regulations of standards and safety to facilitate your businesses and trade,” Manyang said. “While I am aware that the policies are in place, they are often overlooked.”

The seminar, organized by Jasmin Ltd. in partnership with TÜV Austria, aimed to raise awareness about the importance of ensuring imported goods meet national standards.

South Sudan imports a wide range of products, and the government’s role, through the National Bureau of Standards, is to ensure these products are safe for consumption, Manyang said.

Marial Jacob Mayak, General Manager of Jasmin Ltd., said the seminar focused on the process of obtaining Certificates of Conformity (CoC) for imported goods.

“The main reason for our gathering is that Jasmin has partnered with TÜV, which has been licensed by the South Sudan National Bureau of Standards to conduct pre-verification of standards conformity. We felt it was important to raise awareness,” Mayak said.

He emphasized that obtaining CoCs was not only a requirement but also a responsibility to ensure the quality of products entering South Sudan.

“The reason we want goods to meet these standards is to protect our people and ensure that we maintain the quality of all products used in the Republic of South Sudan,” he said.

The Executive Director of the South Sudan National Bureau of Standards said the bureau, established by the Standards Act 2012 and the Weights and Measures Act 2012, was responsible for protecting consumers, the environment, and businesses involved in import and export.

She assured that the bureau would ensure all goods entering South Sudan meet the required standards and are safe for consumption.