OIML CEEMS Awards 2025

Introduction

The OIML CEEMS Awards were established to raise awareness of the importance of legal metrology activities in countries and economies with emerging metrology systems (CEEMS) and to provide an incentive for their improvement. The Awards acknowledge and honour "new and outstanding activities achieved by individuals, national services or regional legal metrology organizations contributing significantly to legal metrology objectives on national or regional levels”, in line with OIML D 1:2020 National metrology systems – Developing the institutional and legislative framework.

The BIML circulates an annual call for nominations for the Award, and the CIML President, in consultation with the two Vice-Presidents and the BIML Director, selects the Award winner(s), announced at the next CIML meeting.

At the 60th CIML Meeting (2025) it was our pleasure to present the following two OIML CEEMS Awards.

1. Department of Internal Trade (DIT), Ministry of Commerce, Thailand

The APLMF nominates the Department of Internal Trade (DIT), Ministry of Commerce, Thailand, for the CEEMS Award. Although this organization already received the award in 2010, it has made significant achievements since then:

In October 2023, the DIT proposed a new support programme, the “Chiang Mai Declaration” concerning the NEXT initiative for directing the OIMLʼs CEEMS activities, which was approved in the resolution CIML/2023/36.
• The DIT hosted eleven training courses in 2010, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 (twice), 2022, and 2025 (twice), including an OTE on pre-packages in 2025. It also provided trainers for most of these events.
• The DIT successfully organised the “Seminar on enhancing competitiveness of Thai Weights and Measures Business Holders” on 25 September 2024. More than 300 participants from Thailand and other countries attended this event.
• The DIT has provided training for the Industrial Technology Development Institute (ITDI, Philippines), regarding the verification and inspection of spring scales, digital scales, truck scales, and bulk flow meters.
• The DIT supported a PTB programme, in which three trainees from Cambodia were invited to learn how to verify and inspect LPG dispensers.
• The DIT is in the process of supporting the Lao People’s Democratic Republic in developing its legal metrology system. It plans to extend cooperation with other countries in ASEAN.

The DIT has collaborated with the OIML and the APLMF to strengthen the legal metrology framework in their region by driving various projects and achieving tangible outcomes. It is highly prepared to be an effective training centre in the future. It possesses competent personnel, necessary standards, and tools for various important fields in legal metrology.

Left: Jaco Marneweck; Right: Bobjoseph Mathew; Center: Mr Wittayakorn Maneenetr (Director General, DIT), receiving the OIML CEEMS Award on behalf of the DIT.

2. Zambia Metrology Agency (ZMA), represented by Humphrey Nkobeni

The Zambia Metrology Agency (ZMA), operates under the Ministry of Commerce, Trade, and Industry, and was established under the Metrology Act No. 6 of 2017.  It plays a pivotal role in overseeing the provision of essential metrology services in Zambia. ZMA’s mandate extends across sectors, including mining, construction, energy, manufacturing, agricultural, petroleum, and many other sub-sectors.

Humphrey Nkobeni’s leadership has transformed Zambia’s legal metrology framework in alignment with the principles outlined in OIML D 1:2020, with demonstrable impact across institutional growth, technical performance, revenue generation, and international cooperation.

Growth of legal metrology in Zambia

Under Mr Nkobeni’s stewardship, Zambia has witnessed remarkable expansion and modernization of its legal metrology system.

• Staff numbers have grown by 74% between 2022 and 2024 (from 54 to 94), ensuring improved nationwide coverage and service delivery.
• Annual verifications increased by 91% between 2022 and 2024 (from 37 780 to 72 209), signifying enhanced consumer protection and fairness in trade.
• National Treasury Receipts rose by 52% between 2022 and 2024 (from ZMW 88.8 million to ZMW 135 million), reinforcing the sustainability of Zambia’s quality infrastructure and contributing to national development.

The ZMA has built a resilient, performance-driven legal metrology system that supports economic growth and trust in measurement.

Awareness of legal metrology

• Successfully got support from key policy makes such as the Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry
• Collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture and Ministry of Mines and Minerals Development
• Excellent use of media through quarterly Press / media briefings, and daily updates on social media.
• Through cross-ministerial presentations, inter-agency committees, and technical working groups, Mr Nkobeni has consistently positioned legal metrology as a foundational pillar of governance and economic development.

Legal and institutional framework

Mr Nkobeni has played a central role in strengthening Zambia’s legal and institutional architecture for metrology, aligning it with international best practice and OIML Recommendations. His work has facilitated the creation of a regulatory environment that is transparent, inclusive, and responsive to the evolving needs of trade, industry, and consumers.

Regional and international collaboration

Mr Nkobeni has positioned Zambia as a recognized voice in regional and global metrology platforms, actively advancing South-South cooperation and knowledge sharing. He has championed harmonization of metrology systems across Africa, promoted the uptake of OIML instruments, and facilitated Zambia’s emergence as a regional hub for legal metrology excellence.

These achievements have made a tangible improvement to consumer protection, trade fairness, and institutional capacity, whilst advancing the OIML’s objectives across Africa.

Left: Jaco Marneweck; Right: Bobjoseph Mathew; Center: Humphrey Nkobeni, receiving the OIML CEEMS Award on behalf of ZMA.