The National Bureau of Standards (NBS) conducted a massive destruction of more than 10,000 expired food items collected from various markets across Juba on Thursday.
Wheat flour, sugar, powdered milk, oil, and soap were among the goods set ablaze during the operation.
Mary Gordon Muortat, the Chief Executive Officer of the National Bureau of Standards, addressed the media after the destruction, emphasizing their commitment to making South Sudan a safe place by eliminating expired, counterfeit, and substandard goods from the market.
She stated, “We reject the notion that South Sudan is a dumping ground for expired, counterfeit, and substandard goods. We will rigorously continue our operations to ensure that we are not a dumping ground for any goods, whether they be cars, food, or any other items. Each product will be thoroughly inspected.”
Mary assured the public that the Bureau of Standards is working diligently to ensure that only safe and suitable products enter the country for human consumption. She advised importers and traders to import goods with expiry dates that are at least a year away to avoid losing their businesses.
“Our country receives a significant influx of imports, but unfortunately, many of these imports are either substandard or counterfeit. The South Sudan Bureau of Standards has been established by the government to safeguard the health of consumers and to ensure that all incoming products meet quality standards,” she stressed.
Mary emphasized the importance of purchasing products from certified shops or manufacturers who can provide a Certificate of Conformity (COC), indicating that the product has been thoroughly tested and meets high-quality standards.
She urged consumers to be cautious when purchasing goods from traders without proper certification, as such products may eventually be seized and destroyed by the National Bureau of Standards.
On another note, Mary revealed that the Bureau is planning to destroy maize flour seized at the Nimule Border Point with Uganda due to high levels of Aflatoxin, a dangerous substance for human consumption.
The NBS is determined to return any truck carrying contaminated food commodities back to their country of origin to protect the health of South Sudanese citizens, she added.