By Ramatoulie Jawo
The National Assembly passed the Gambia Legal Metrology Bill 2025 on Monday, a significant legislative step toward modernizing the country’s measurement standards.
Introduced by the Minister of Trade, Industry, Regional Integration, and Employment, Baboucarr O. Joof, the bill expands the scope of legal metrology to regulate measurements in key sectors, including trade, health, law enforcement, and the environment.
Minister Joof underscored the need for this revision, citing advancements in science and technology that have transformed measuring devices, necessitating updated regulations to address emerging challenges.
The bill also restructures the regulatory framework by merging the Weights and Measures Bureau, previously under the Ministry of Trade, with the Gambia Standards Bureau to establish a new Department of Legal Metrology. This move aligns with the government’s broader strategy of streamlining institutions for improved efficiency and sustainability.“The present government weight and measures act of 1977 and the standards of the weight and measures rules of 1979 are deficient in some of its sections and not serving its purpose the Gambia legal metrology bill 2024 when enacted will broaden the scope of legal metrology to regulate measurements in trade, health, law enforcement and environment,” the minister stated.
He further emphasized that the bill would promote fairness in trade by ensuring metrology equipment provides accurate readings, protecting consumers and ensuring they receive the correct value for goods and services.