The meeting was to develop a framework for the development of the national standards for onion and its related value chain. The day’s event, which attracted various experts from the agricultural value chain, was funded by the European Union (EU) and under the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO).
At the forum, Christian Lasser, project administrator of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization, said the forum also seeks to increase competitiveness through enhanced quality and compliance along the onion value chain, improve the performance, growth and contribution to industry, regional trade and exports of selected value chain.
The standard, he added, will cover specification of onion, good Agricultural practices, good manufacturing practices, handling and storage and labeling and packaging, adding that the Committee will review different reputable international standards and adopt those that suit the Gambian context.
For his part, Ebrima Musa Jallow, director of Standardization Division at TGSB, said one of the mandates of the bureau is to standardise all products and services consumed or produced in The Gambia.
“Therefore, any product that is produced in the country it is our mandate to standardize the product. Even when the Gambia don’t have the capacity to produce the product but they are importing, it is also our mandate to standardise that product or services, so one of the division that we have to be able to know is Standardization Division.”
Jallow also reminded that the bureau is responsible for the development of all standards across all sectors and also promoting the standard in promoting the standard, they conduct trainings. They also conduct sensitisation activities and some other media publicity.
He indicated that the other division that helps in attaining this is the Conformity Unit of the bureau that ensures that instructions are in line with their conformity rules.
