Exporters and stakeholders in Uganda's organic agriculture sector have voiced concerns over new European Union (EU) regulations that they say could significantly increase the cost of doing business. The regulations, known as 2018-848, mandate that all organic products exported to the EU must be certified and tested by laboratories located within Europe, a requirement that local players argue could severely impact their operations.
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| Ugandan exporters sound alarm over new EU organic certification standards |
The concerns were raised during a multi-sectoral stakeholder engagement organized by the National Organic Agriculture Movement of Uganda (NOGAMU) in collaboration with the International Trade Centre (ITC) and other development partners. The meeting brought together key players in the sector to discuss strategies for complying with the new EU regulations, which are set to take effect in January of the following year.
Chariton Namuwoza, Executive Director of NOGAMU, stated that the engagement was essential for building synergies and finding solutions to help Ugandan farmers and exporters meet the stringent EU standards. "Our goal is to ensure that our local organic products remain competitive in the international market by adhering to these new regulations," he said.
However, concerns remain widespread. Allan Wayira, Programme Officer for the STAR Project under the ITC, acknowledged the environmental and soil fertility benefits that the new regulations aim to protect but noted that most local businesses and farmers are not prepared to meet the new demands.
"The regulations are well-intentioned but could be disastrous for our local exporters who lack the resources to comply," he warned.
The requirement for EU-based certification and laboratory testing has raised alarms about the additional costs Ugandan exporters will incur, including the expense of hiring foreign companies and paying for international courier services.
Dr. Charles Walaga, an academic and expert in agricultural certification, pointed out that Uganda lacks the necessary local infrastructure, such as certification companies and laboratories, forcing exporters to rely on more costly foreign services.
"This could potentially drive some of our farmers and exporters out of business," he said. Dr. Abubakar Muhammad Moki, Commissioner for Policy Development and Capacity Building in the Office of the President, called for a deeper analysis of the circumstances that led to the EU's stringent regulations.
He suggested that such an analysis could form the basis for petitioning relevant authorities to consider the unique challenges faced by exporters from developing countries like Uganda. In a show of support, Christable Tumwebaze from Feed the Future Uganda, a USAID-funded initiative, pledged to collaborate with NOGAMU to improve working conditions for the export of organic products.
"We are committed to ensuring that Ugandan organic products can continue to access international markets despite these new challenges," Tumwebaze stated. As the deadline for compliance with the EU regulations approaches, Ugandan exporters are grappling with the dual challenge of maintaining access to lucrative European markets while managing the increased costs and logistical hurdles imposed by the new standards.
The outcome of ongoing discussions and efforts to adapt will determine the future of Uganda's organic exports on the global stage.
