By James Chatim

The South Sudan National Bureau of Standards (SSNBS) has confiscated and re-exported seven commercial trucks carrying contaminated food items.

Four trucks were confiscated on Monday, while the other three were withheld on Saturday, August 16.

The goods destined for Juba from Nimule town were all re-exported to the country of origin, according to the statement issued by SSNBS.

“During a recent inspection at Nimule, our technical team identified consignments that failed to meet national and international quality standards,” the SSBNS said on Saturday.

“As a result, two trucks carrying maize flour and maize grains were re-exported to the country of origin after laboratory analysis confirmed aflatoxin levels above the permissible limits for human consumption.”

Meanwhile, on August 11, the SSNBS said it re-exported four trucks of the maize flour consignment

“As part of a routine inspection at the Nimule port of entry, four trucks of maize flour were found to contain aflatoxin levels that exceeded national safety standards.”

“Under the National Bureau of Standards Act and the Weights and Measures Act of 2012, this consignment was rejected and ordered for re-export to the country of origin to safeguard public health and uphold national quality standards,” it said.

The SSNBS promised to ensure the quality of goods entering the Republic of South Sudan by conducting routine inspections and conformity assessments seven days a week at all designated ports of entry.

South Sudan, with its history of political unrest and armed conflict, combined with the impact of climate change and low levels of food production per capita, the country has been facing daunting food security challenges every year.

At present, the world’s youngest country relies on private sector cereal imports from Uganda for 30-50 percent of its total cereal supply.