The National Dairy Laboratory is the testing unit of the Dairy Development Authority, and supports the regulation and development of Dairy Industry. The Laboratory centrally located in UMA show Grounds Lugogo, Kampala District, has steadily grown to include regional laboratories in South Western, North Eastern, Northern and Midwestern Regions. The Laboratory also operates mobile laboratories in Central and Southwestern regions.
An ISO/IEC 17025: 2017 General requirements for competence of testing and calibration laboratories standard implementing unit, the National Dairy Laboratory provides testing services for milk and milk products including; pasteurized milk, UHT milk, powder milk, cheese, yoghurt, fermented milk, cultured milk, ice cream, milk ices, sweetened condensed milk, evaporated milk, casein, whey milk products, raw milk, ghee, butter oil, butter and cream; following the Uganda Standards, East African Standards and International Standards. The results provided inform of Certificate of Analysis and test result reports, are utilized for inspection, registration, product development, surveillance, certification and standards development with UNBS and baseline studies. The laboratory clients include DDA Inspectors, Development officers, factories, cottages, and milk transporters, customs officers at border points, dairy farmers and consumers.
The National Dairy Laboratory also conforms to international standards of metrological traceability by participating in internationally recognized proficiency testing and Inter-laboratory comparison schemes in Uganda, East Africa, Germany, and Italy. The Microbiology section has registered analysis success with Enterobacteriaceae, Coliforms, Yeasts & Moulds, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonellae spp., Listeria monocytogenes and Spore formers. While the Physiochemical section has registered the following test parameters; Butter fat-routine method, Fat-reference method, Density, Solids-non-fat, Freezing point-reference method, Added water-reference method, Total Ash, pH, Titrateable acidity, Moisture/total solids, Lactose, Total sugar, Milk adulterants, Veterinary Drug residues, Aflatoxin M1 and milk compositions.
The Laboratory structure allows for a fast turnaround time, enabling trade in exports and imports, regulation and innovation in the dairy industry.
