Freetown, November 12, 2025— The Government of Sierra Leone, through the Ministry of Trade and Industry, has announced that beginning January 1, 2026, all iron rods imported or manufactured in the country must comply with metric standards instead of the imperial measurements previously in use.
In a public notice issued on Tuesday, the Ministry said the new policy is part of efforts to standardize construction materials and align Sierra Leone’s industrial practices with international norms.
Under the new regulation, all iron rods will be measured in millimeters (mm) and meters (m), with each rod required to have a standard length of 12 meters.
The notice further stated that every iron rod must be stamped with the manufacturer’s or importer’s name and the diameter of the rod for identification and quality assurance.
The Ministry provided a list of approved metric sizes ranging from 6mm (equivalent to the former 1/4 inch) to 32mm (formerly 1 1/4 inch), with corresponding details on the number of pieces per ton.
To ensure proper compliance, all iron rod dealers and retail outlets are required to maintain a functional and calibrated Vernier caliper to verify product measurements. Iron rods of other sizes needed for specialized projects must first receive approval from the Sierra Leone Standards Bureau (SLSB)**.
The Ministry also warned that its officials will conduct random inspections at warehouses and sales outlets across the country to enforce compliance.
“All importers and manufacturers are strictly warned to adhere to this government policy. Any act of non-compliance will be met with the full penalty of the law,” the statement read.
The public notice was signed by the management of the Ministry of Trade and Industry and dated 11th November 2025.
