Metrology, or the the scientific study of measurements, is important in daily lives of consumers and businesses as it reinforces quality in manufactured goods and processes through accurate and credible measurements. Making her contribution in parliament on the Metrology Bill, Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) parliamentarian Elma Dienda said metrology further provides the basis for fair domestic and international trade.
Earlier this month, trade minister Lucia Iipumbu tabled the new Metrology Bill for consideration and subsequently ratification by the August House. Metrology’s applications include all theoretical and practical aspects of measurements.
The proposed legislation seeks amongst others, to redress a widening gap on legal units of measurement in Namibian legislation, particularly on traceability and measuring equipment related to metrology such as consumer protection and conformity assessments. The Bill further attends to Namibia’s national quest to be in sync with its trading partners to foster market access and alleviate technical barriers to trade based on measurements.
Dienda noted that without metrology, many critical requirements for public health will not be possible.
“Metrology all around ensures quality. Indeed, without the correct measurements, the ability to produce consumer and user requirements will not be possible. It ensures that all we invest in will measure up to all satisfying customer expectations in regards to performance,” she explained.
According to Dienda, this piece of legislation remains crucial and must be handled with outmost due diligence.
Meanwhile, the parliamentarian appealed for the Bill to be sent to the standing committee for further investigations.
She said there is a need to discuss regulations which are being proposed when a Bill is being tabled in parliament. Dienda added the ministry is passing a good Bill, but she was concerned about lack of knowledge of what is being hidden in the regulation.
“At the end of the day you are coming with a regulation which contradict what the Act is saying. Meaning all the good work that you want to do through these regulations is just thrown through the door because regulation does not speak to the issues the Bill is speaking to,” she said.
When trade minister Lucia Iipumbu first tabled the new legislation, she said it will enable Namibia to trade more effectively locally, regionally and globally. She noted that it is a regulatory requirement for products produced or manufactured domestically to be of quality and also that the quantity and packaging standards meet international requirements.
“I wish to reiterate that metrology is of outmost importance in our daily lives, as it reinforces quality in manufactured goods and processes through accurate and credible measurements and provides the basis for fair domestic and international trade,” said Iipumbu when she motivated the Bill.