The major thrust of the Regulatory Services department is to register, license and regulate the activities in the Dairy Industry. The department is charged with functions a, d, and e under Section 7 of the Dairy Industry Act 1998, that is:

1. Register and licence milk processors and traders.
2. Advise Government on milk standards in liaison with the Uganda National Bureau of Standards.
3. Control and regulate dairy and dairy related input and export activities in conformity with External Trade Act but without violating the Animal Disease Act.

It also issues certificates on terms and conditions prescribed by the organization to processors, raw milk dealers etc., inspects them to ensure compliance with requirements, sets quality standards, monitors and advises on quality standards.

Planned Activities

• Identification, registration, and inspection of outlets of milk processors, and raw milk dealers countrywide, to ensure that all such dealers comply with dairy regulations.
• Enforcing Quality standards
• Reform milk marketing to make milk safer for consumers, and profitable for producers
• Establishing a model milk outlet & laboratory
• Producing Guidelines for Hygienic practices in milk handling.
• Generating and disseminating milk hygiene & quality information to end users (dealers and consumers)
• Monitoring and regulating milk Import and Export
• Develop training and sensitization programs for all stakeholders; Conduct training programs
• Participation in shows and exhibitions

Achievements

Dairy Development Authority has continued to register milk dealers and processors and categorizing those who operate coolers and freezers. Factories, milk processors and dealers’ premises were inspected. Registration certificates were issued to operate, some to importers. Registers have been compiled. The exercise for all these activities is on going in the different parts of the country.

Reports for quality assurance and products were submitted to DDA from laboratories. Local and imported products samples are still collected and tested for compliance with standards, and reports on results are made for stakeholders. Towards this, an Elec-Tester was procured for Dairy Corporation Limited (DCL).

Capacity to check milk quality has been established. The Entebbe laboratory was repaired, equipment and chemicals procured, and the laboratory made operational. For the model milk outlet and a laboratory at UMA show grounds, the building was completed and awaits installation of equipment.

DDA has reviewed old guidelines/standards document for milk and milk products, and has put in place a Guidelines for Hygienic practices in milk handling document in collaboration with National Standards Committee of UNBS.