The Ministry of Trade, Industry, Regional Integration, and Employment (MoTIE) held a productive Consultative Workshop at the Sunset Beach Hotel.
This workshop focused on the Draft New Legal Metrology Bill 2024, designed to replace the outdated Weights and Measures Act of 1977. The new Bill broadens the scope of legal metrology to regulate measurements not only in trade but also in health and safety, law enforcement, and environmental management.
The new Bill aims to modernize our legal metrology framework by incorporating advancements in science and technology related to measuring devices. It addresses the challenges posed by modern instruments, ensuring that our legislation meets current and future needs.
The collaboration with the Select Committee on Trade of the National Assembly was instrumental in facilitating rich discussions around key issues and observations regarding this important legislative initiative.
In his opening statement, Mr. Lamin Dampha, the permanent secretary of the MoTIE stated that in drafting this bill, the Ministry of Trade, Industry, Regional Integration, and Employment has worked diligently, with support from the West Africa Quality Programme and other key stakeholders, to ensure that it reflects the best practices for legal metrology systems. He added that they have had consultations with relevant institutions such as the Weights and Measures Bureau, the Ministry of Health, and the National Environment Agency, among others and that the input from these institutions has been invaluable in shaping this bill.
Therefore, he extended gratitude to the National Assembly Committee on Trade and Regional Integration for their unwavering commitment to this bill noting that their efforts in providing oversight, reviewing the provisions, and guiding the legislative process have been instrumental in bringing them to this stage. “We are confident that with their continued support, this bill will soon become law, bringing numerous benefits to both businesses and consumers,” PS Dampha said.
According to him, the new bill is crucial in safeguarding consumers by ensuring that measuring devices used in trade are accurate and reliable. Furthermore, he observed that by adopting the International System of Units, they align their practices with global standards, which is essential for regional and international trade.
He informed the workshop that another key aspect of this bill is the merger of the Weights and Measures Bureau with the Gambia Standards Bureau. This merger, he said, is part of the government’s broader strategy to streamline agencies and ensure the efficient delivery of services. He added that the amalgamation will enhance the regulatory capacity of the Gambia Standards Bureau, creating a robust system for the enforcement of legal metrology.
Therefore, he said the workshop is an opportunity for them to further refine this bill, ensuring that it meets the needs of all stakeholders.
Hom. Kebba Jallow, chairman of the National Assembly Select Committee on Trade and Regional Integration and Ernest Aubee, chairman of the Board of Directors of the Gambia Standards Bureau both commended the Ministry of Trade for taking the initiative of having a New Legal Metrology Bill.
