Published: February 13, 2026
MONROVIA — The Liberia Standards Authority (LISA) has declared itself fully operational under its statutory mandate, marking the transition from a transitional entity to Liberia’s national standards body following infrastructure upgrades funded by the European Union.
At a press briefing Thursday at LISA’s refurbished headquarters in Monrovia, Director General Stephen Y. Mambu said the institution is now equipped to perform core regulatory functions under the Liberia Standards Authority Act of 2022.
“February 19, 2026, symbolizes LISA’s transition from a provisional institution into a fully empowered national standards body,” Mambu said, referencing the scheduled presidential commissioning of the facility.
Expanded Mandate
According to Mambu, LISA will now formally execute its statutory responsibilities, including:
- Development and harmonization of national standards
- Conformity assessment through testing, inspection, certification and calibration
- Legal metrology oversight
- Technical support services to industries and small and medium enterprises
He noted that while the Act establishing LISA was passed in 2022, limited laboratory infrastructure and operational capacity delayed full implementation.
“The presidential launch will formally conclude that transitional period,” he said.
EU-Funded Modernization
The upgraded facility was funded by the European Union and implemented by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) under the Liberia Food Safety Initiative.
The renovation included structural rehabilitation, roofing repairs, installation of modern laboratory benches and fittings, water and sanitation upgrades, and a hybrid power system combining solar, generator and grid connections. Drilling works were also undertaken to ensure consistent water supply for laboratory operations.
Mambu said the modernization enables LISA to conduct reliable food testing and conformity assessment in line with national and international standards.
The Director General confirmed that 17 technical staff members completed residential training at the Ghana Standards Authority, focusing on food safety testing, calibration techniques and preparation for ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation — the international standard for testing and calibration laboratory competence.
Achieving ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation would allow LISA’s laboratory results to gain wider international recognition, a critical requirement for export certification and trade facilitation.
During the Feb. 19 ceremony, President Joseph Nyuma Boakai is expected to officially commission the facility and launch Liberia’s first national quality mark and certification seal. The seal will signify compliance with approved standards for domestic and export products.
LISA will also adopt its five-year strategic plan outlining accreditation pathways, resource modernization and sector-specific regulatory priorities.
Strengthening Food Safety and Trade
The EU-supported Liberia Food Safety Initiative was designed to strengthen food safety compliance along selected value chains and enhance trade in locally produced goods.
“A central objective of this initiative has been to strengthen national standard-setting capacity and improve food safety control systems,” Mambu said.
He emphasized that stronger standards enforcement and laboratory capability are essential to protecting consumers and positioning Liberian products competitively within regional and international markets.
Stakeholder Engagement Week
Ahead of the presidential launch, LISA scheduled a week of engagement activities from Feb. 12–18.
On Feb. 13, private sector representatives are expected to tour the facility and observe live demonstrations of laboratory functions. On Feb. 16, LISA will host academia and regulators to discuss research collaboration and regulatory coordination. A development partners’ roundtable is planned for Feb. 17 to present LISA’s strategic and sustainability framework.
Mambu said the engagements are intended to foster stakeholder ownership and align standards enforcement with industry needs.
Regulatory Implications
With full statutory status, LISA now assumes a central role in Liberia’s quality infrastructure framework. The effectiveness of its mandate will depend on enforcement mechanisms, private sector compliance and progress toward international accreditation benchmarks.
The commissioning of the modernized facility marks a significant institutional step, but sustained funding, technical capacity and regulatory coordination will determine whether Liberia’s standards regime can meet the demands of expanding trade and consumer protection.
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