Gambia’s First Food Testing Lab Set to Open This Year

By Modou L. Badjie

The Minister for Trade, Regional Integration, and Employment has announced plans for the country’s inaugural food testing laboratory to commence operations later this year. This development aims to address a critical challenge faced by food exporters in The Gambia—the absence of an accredited food testing facility.

Minister Babucarr O. Joof revealed that the lack of a certified food testing laboratory has been a huge hurdle for food exporters and has also impacted the assurance of food safety for imported items. In response to this challenge, the Ministry of Trade has taken the initiative to construct a state-of-the-art National Food Testing Laboratory, positioning The Gambia to enhance its standing in the export industry.

The construction of the laboratory, carried out under the auspices of the Gambia Standards Bureau, is funded by the ministry. Minister Joof further disclosed that the ministry has secured support from the West African Competitiveness Project to provide essential equipment for the laboratory and assist in obtaining international accreditation.

In addition to addressing the challenges in the food sector, Minister Joof touched upon employment issues. He mentioned that the approval of the National Employment Policy and Action Plan 2022-2023 is underway. To facilitate effective implementation, the National Employment Technical Committee has been established, consisting of the main committee, employment champions, and development partners.

While acknowledging the significant challenges faced by the country in achieving sustainable development goals, particularly in trade deficit reduction and employment enhancement, Minister Joof affirmed the ministry’s commitment to pursuing sectoral growth strategies for a more robust economic landscape.