South Sudan's English Daily Newspaper
"We Dare where others fear"
By Awan Achiek
South Sudan National Bureau of Standards (SSNBS) has equipped its laboratory in the Nimule border town with modern equipment to test imported products in a bid to curb substandard goods in the country.
Dr. Kuorwel Kuai Kuorwel, Chairperson of SSNBS said the lab has been equipped with modern technology that conforms to the East African Community standards.
He said the equipment include “Elisa” used to test products contaminated with high levels of aflatoxins.
“This is one (Elisa) of the most sensitive instruments that is used, and when you go around East Africa you will not able to see any point of entry which has this more advanced technology,” Kuorwel told journalists during the tour of the laboratory in Nimule on Friday.
He said that the equipment will strengthen the country’s scientific reputation.
“Last year, you have heard of issues of credibility where people were questioning that South Sudan couldn’t be able to verify the result, and when we came from Juba the last two days, we have decided to come with more advanced technology,” Kuorwel said.
“We are doing this to ensure that as a nation we also must be mindful of our scientific reputation so that what we produce in terms of results nobody should be able to question them,” he added.
Kuorwel said that they have also deployed in Juba high-performance liquid chromatography in the central laboratory to test and verify imported products.
“In Juba, if we completely have 100 per cent results coming out here confirming that there is a high level of aflatoxin and you still have the doubt, we have also deployed in Juba high-performance liquid chromatography in our central laboratory,” he said.
He reiterated their readiness to curb the proliferation of substandard products which threaten the safety and growth of the economy.
“All goods that are entering and we consider them of high-risk product, we are ensuring that we are testing and that is why we have this small laboratory in Nimule entry point,” Kuorwel said.
He cautioned traders against the importation of substandard products into the country.
“We also want to encourage our private sector to ensure that, please don’t bring any substandard or any product that causes safety issues. You will meet the Bureau here at the border and we will not allow your product and we have all the technology that you need, the latest technology is what we have developed here,” Kuorwel said.
The South Sudan National Bureau of Standards was established in 2012 and is responsible for implementing standards, testing, inspection, market surveillance, certification, accreditation and other technical regulations.
