UNBS seizes over two tonnes of banned cosmetics in Kampala crackdown

KAMPALA | November 11 — The Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) has seized more than 2,000 kilograms of substandard cosmetics during a two-day enforcement operation at Jumbo Arcade in downtown Kampala, as part of efforts to rid the market of harmful products.

According to the Bureau, the targeted market surveillance exercise led to the confiscation of 2,087.8 kilograms of dangerous cosmetics found to contain hydroquinone, a banned skin-lightening ingredient. The operation followed intelligence reports about the sale of unregulated beauty products.

UNBS inspectors swooped on 25 shops, finding violations in 21 of them. The seized products have been removed from circulation, and suspects are set to appear before the Standards and Utilities Court to face charges under the UNBS Act.

Hydroquinone, long banned in Uganda’s cosmetic industry, poses severe health risks. Research shows that prolonged exposure can cause irreversible skin damage, organ toxicity, and an increased risk of cancer. The UNBS banned its use under Uganda’s compulsory national standards to safeguard consumers from such dangers.

“The Bureau will continue to enforce standards to protect the public against harmful and substandard products,” UNBS said in a statement, urging consumers to remain vigilant when purchasing cosmetics.

Under Section 3(1)(f) of the UNBS Act, the Bureau is mandated to enforce standards to protect the public. Section 22(1) prohibits the use of the UNBS Distinctive Mark without certification, while Section 23(1) outlaws the importation, manufacture, or sale of products that fail to meet compulsory Uganda standards.

Consumers have been reminded to buy only certified cosmetics bearing the UNBS Quality (Q) Mark, which signifies compliance with national safety standards. The agency also encouraged the public to report suspicious or unlabelled products through its toll-free lines 0800 133 133 / 233 233 or via WhatsApp at 0713 112 133.

The Bureau reaffirmed its commitment to consumer protection through continuous market surveillance, enforcement of standards, and public education campaigns.

UNBS has also published a full list of banned cosmetics containing hydroquinone on its website at www.unbs.go.ug.

“Our goal is to ensure that only safe, quality products reach the market. Any retailer or importer found violating these standards will face the full force of the law,” the Bureau added.

This latest crackdown underscores UNBS’s renewed vigilance against illegal cosmetics and reaffirms its determination to uphold public health and safety in Uganda’s growing beauty and personal care industry.