By Catherine Nakayemba and Gerald Tenywa
Cabinet has approved a new independent body to regulate agrochemicals, veterinary drugs, and equipment in a bid to check the rampant fake agri-products currently on the market.
The body will operate under the agriculture ministry and will handle the specific issues of agricultural inputs, allowing the National Drug Authority (NDA) to focus on human medicine.
NDA was previously in charge of regulating human drugs and equipment as well as inputs in the agricultural sector but was unable to effectively fulfil both mandates.
“On deep analysis, the Cabinet found out that the NDA was overburdened,” said agriculture state minister Fred Kyakulaga on Wednesday.
“So, Cabinet took a decision to let the NDA concentrate on human drugs and equipment and leave the function of agrochemicals, veterinary drugs, and equipment to a new authority.”
Speaking at the Uganda Media Centre in Kampala, Kyakulaga explained the new body was created in response to requests from industry stakeholders to improve regulation of agricultural and veterinary products on the market.
“What motivated us is the need to address the rampant complaints from the agricultural community about the fake agricultural inputs, veterinary drugs, and equipment. There is widespread outcry from the farming community,” said the minister.
The agriculture ministry has embarked on the process of creating a law to support the new agency’s mandate.
“After the Cabinet took that decision, my ministry embarked on coming up with a law.
“The first step is to write down principles and take those to Cabinet. Once the Cabinet agrees with our proposed principles, they will allow us to write to the first parliamentary council to draft the Bill. Then we can go into consultations with all the stakeholders,” explained Kyakulaga.
The new body was established following the Cabinet’s approval of amendments to the National Drug Policy and Authority Act.
