Following several detections of substandard products, UNBS has reinforced its control and monitoring on "Reinforcement steel bars" and "steel roofing sheet and coils». 

From now on, importation of some products is PROHIBITED and the full compliance to International or East African standard shall be fully demonstrated.

• COLD TWISTED BARS: 

Importation is PROHIBITED with immediate effect.

Only those importers with consignments already at sea and ordered before 30th January shall be allowed.

All reinforcement steel bars produced, imported, marketed and used shall meet the relevant national, EAC standards and other regulations. The current EAC standard for steel bars for reinforcement of concrete is EAS 412-1&2: 2013. All reinforcement steel bars shall be manufactured in accordance with Good Manufacturing Practices.

• GALVANIZED PLAIN AND CORRUGATED STEEL SHEETS AND COILS:

Importation of galvanized roofing steel sheets and coils of G 34 for roofing purposes is PROHIBITED

All the Galvanized iron (GI) sheets manufactured, imported, sold or distributed shall conform to US EAS 11:2013 Galvanized plain and corrugated steel sheets – Specification. 

All the Galvanized iron (GI) sheets manufactured, imported, sold or distributed shall conform to the mass of zinc coating on the two sides of the sheet and the corresponding thickness of  zinc coating on each side shall comply with the classification of the coating class in the specified standard henceforth.

The use of colour codes for GI sheets during marking shall be as follows;

Gauge 32 shall be marked with BLUE colour;

Gauge 30 shall be marked with RED colour; and

Gauge 28 shall be marked with BLACK colour.

• PRE-PAINTED METAL COATED STEEL SHETTES AND COILS: 

Importation of pre-painted metal coated steel sheets and coils of GS 32 is PROHIBITED

All the Pre-painted metal coated roofing steel sheets and coils manufactured, imported, sold or distributed intended for roofing shall bear the primer and top coat for it is provided for in US EAS 468:2013 henceforth.

Importers of coils shall notify UNBS of intention to import in order to be given codes at the time of importation for traceability purposes.

Those new directives are for IMMEDIATE implantation.