Austrian company suspends imports of Ugandan organic dry fruits

EINE Welt Handel Ag, an Austrian-based company, has suspended the importation of organic dry fruits from Uganda over poor preservation methods.

Karl Pirsch, the proprietor of the company, claimed that he lost $10,000 as a result of poorly preserved fruits that were exported in December.

“In August, we ordered for a consignment of fruits, and to our surprise on delivery, they smelt of smoke. They were rejected in the market. It is likely the exporters used local methods of preservation,” he disclosed during a meeting with local exporters at the UEPB boardroom in Kampala.

“We cannot import more dry organic fruits until the exporters adopt modern methods of preserving their fruits. Otherwise, they have no market in Europe,” Karl warned. He said when the suspension is lifted they expect exporters to adopt new methods of preserving their fruits, like the use of solar driers.

Olivia Mitterer, an Austrian-based at the Uganda Investment Authority, asked the UEPB to educate exporters about export documentation, the prerequisite for sustaining the European market.

Odoi Othieno, the UEPB senior trade promotion officer, regretted the fact that the majority of exporters lack business skills in costing, pricing and product negotiation.

He disclosed that many exporters source for UEPB support after landing into problems. The Uganda Export Promotion Board (UEPB), however, declined to name the exporters involved.

New Vision