UGANDA NATIONAL BUREAU OF STANDARDS Document No: CERT/PC/ID01

CERTIFICATION SCHEME Effective Date: 2/08/2021

Document Title: INFORMATION ON PRODUCT CERTIFICATION PROCESS Issue No: 04 Rev. 01

TIME TAKEN TO
PROCESS STEP REMARK
COMPLETE STEP
1. Application Clients no longer need to physically visit
Apply online by opening a user account on At discretion of applicant the UNBS offices. They can be
cims.unbs.go.ug or via the www.unbs.go.ug supported by email on
certification@unbs.go.ug
2. Application Review Within 3 days after Any concerns with the application are
The information submitted to UNBS is reviewed submission of application resolved before proceeding
for completeness and adequacy.
3. Payment Client given up to 21 days to make
The company is billed for certification and testing Within 1 week of payment.
fees and Payment of Product Certification Fees submission of application Delayed payment implies delayed
Notice generated and sent through the e-system. scheduling of audit.
4. Audit Scheduled within 1 month Delays can be occasioned by delayed
Auditors from UNBS visit the factory of the after verification of resolution of any issues raised with the
applicant for the on-site evaluation application, delayed payment or
payment of fees
voluntary requests for audit extension.
5. Product Evaluation Depends on laboratory Product testing may be done at UNBS
Auditors obtain samples from the factory during turnaround time or any UNBS recognised laboratory
the audit and submit to the laboratory for testing.
Non-conformances can be cleared
6. Closure of Non-conformances
earlier than the 30 days to ensure the
Where issues are raised during the audit or 30 days given to client certification process is not delayed.
where product failures have been identified, the within which to resolved Delays can be occasioned by failure to
company is given time to close out the identified non-conformances. satisfactorily close out non-
non-conformances. conformances raised and delays in
testing of the product.
7. Review 5 days after the audit, if Any areas of concern raised by the CRC
If the company has fulfilled the requirements of no non-conformances or are forwarded to the client for
the relevant standards, the company file is 5 days from the date of appropriate handling.
forwarded to the Certification Review Committee submission of corrective
(CRC). Upon deferral of certification, client has
actions
If satisfied, the CRC recommends consideration a maximum of 3 months to resolve.
of grant of permit to the Executive Director.
8. Certification Decision/Approval During the validity of permit, UNBS
Executive Director approves grant of permit to Permit issued within 48 conducts surveillance audits and/or
use the Distinctive Mark on products of the hours of certification market sampling to ensure continued
applicant manufactured in the specified location. decision. compliance to standard requirements.
- Electronic permit is issued valid for 1 year. Apply for renewal 3 months before
permit expiry.

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