The Gambia’s National Assembly today voted to make skin bleaching a punishable offence in the country. 

The bill on skin bleaching has sparked heated debate among Gambians since its introduction to Parliament last week.

A majority of the National Assembly members voted in favour of the bill to ban the use and import of skin bleaching creams in The Gambia. 

The new law states that: 

“A person shall not sell or import into The Gambia any of the creams or substances listed in the Second Schedule unless he or she obtains a permit to do so from the Medicines Board. 

“A person who contravenes subsection (I) commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine of twenty thousand dalasis (D20,000). 

“A person who purchases or has in his or her possession any of the creams or substances listed in the First Schedule commits an offence and liable to conviction to a fine of five thousand dalasis (D5,000).

“A person who without a valid prescription purchases or has in his or her possession any of the creams or substances listed in the Second Schedule commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine of five thousand dalasis (D5,000).”

Reporting by Adama Makasuba