The National Bureau of Standards (NBS) says its central laboratory is expected to resume full operations tomorrow after years of limited capacity caused by inadequate equipment and the need for repairs.
The laboratory has faced operational challenges since 2017, when it received equipment from Trademark East Africa, some of which was not functioning.
The facility tests and certifies the quality and safety of imported and locally manufactured food, consumer goods and other products.
Speaking to journalists in Juba on Wednesday morning, Central Laboratory Director Wilson Wani Leju said the facility had undergone renovation and was now being prepared to resume full testing services.
“For years, the laboratory was in poor condition. We have now completed the renovation and installed the necessary signage, so it is ready for testing,” Leju said.
He said the laboratory received equipment from Trademark East Africa in 2017, but some of the equipment was not functioning.
“Some of it was not working, but it has since been repaired, and all but one item is now operational. The remaining item needs repair. We have also recently received equipment from the FAO and installed it,” Leju said.
Leju said most of the donated equipment and technical support came from Trademark East Africa and the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
The equipment is intended for use in the Chemistry, Microbiology, Mechanical Metrology, Paper and Textile laboratories at the National Central Laboratory.
“Our technicians are currently working with colleagues from the metrology laboratory to commission it. The microbiology laboratory is fully operational, with no major obstacles. In the chemistry laboratory, some equipment is still being commissioned. We expect to begin full operations tomorrow,” he said.
The director said the improved equipment would allow the laboratory to conduct tests that were previously difficult or impossible to perform.
“Previously, we didn’t test for heavy metals such as arsenic, mercury, and lead. Now, we can test for pesticides and measure substances like caffeine in soft drinks and coffee,” Leju said.
He warned that limited testing capacity could allow harmful substances in food and other consumer products to go undetected, potentially exposing consumers to health risks.
“If harmful contaminants are present in products and go undetected, they may pose health risks, including cancer, even if the effects don’t appear immediately,” he said.
Leju also highlighted improvements in the testing of cereals for aflatoxins, toxic substances produced by certain types of fungi that can contaminate food.
“We also test cereals for aflatoxins. In the past, testing may have measured only total aflatoxins; now, it identifies specific types, such as B1, B2, and M1,” he said.
Despite the new equipment and renovations, Wani said the bureau still faced gaps in its testing capacity.
“The bureau still lacks adequate advanced testing equipment to detect harmful substances, poisons and chemical additives in some parts of the country,” he said.
The laboratory’s return to full operations is expected to strengthen the country’s capacity to verify the safety and quality of imported and locally manufactured products and help identify potentially harmful substances before they reach consumers. :::
I’ve deliberately used “resume full operations” rather than “reopen after nine years”, because the director’s comments indicate that laboratory activities continued during that period, even though the facility lacked the equipment and capacity for full testing.
