GNBS ramps up countrywide inspections as Christmas season approaches

As Guyanese across Guyana prepare to shop for goods during the holiday season the country’s National Standards Body, the Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS), has increased market surveillance to protect consumers.
This increase in surveillance was highlighted by Head, Corporate Communications at the Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS) Lloyd David on Tuesday during an interview with the Guyana Times.
During the interview Lloyd reveled that the bureau fully acknowledges the increase of trade and business during this time of the year. As such he noted that the Bureau will be closely monitoring products on the market throughout this period.
“So, the Guyana National Bureau of Standards acknowledge that there will be lots of purchasing and sale during the Christmas season. We will do our best, our inspectors will do their best to ensure that they monitor these products based on quality and labeling requirements.”
He added that throughout this period the bureau will closely monitor several high demand products such as electrical appliances and toys among others.
“Particularly we want to focus on some items which include electrical appliances, that is one of the items that are sold particularly at this time. Electrical fittings and equipment, those are part of the building material array of products that consumers buy. Furniture, gas stove, toys and playthings. These products we will ensure that we monitor them at the sale outlets and also the ports of entry in order for them to meet quality and labeling requirements.”

Electrical appliances
With just about a month away from Christmas, and as peak purchasing period of the season approaches many consumers are considering upgrading or buying a new piece of household electrical appliance. It is necessary for buyers of electrical appliances to choose carefully the best brands and types of appliances needed for their homes, taking into consideration the usage of the appliance and after-sale services provided by sellers.
The Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS) monitors the quality of household electrical appliances imported and offered for sale in Guyana to ensure that they comply with labelling requirements and quality requirements. These appliances include refrigerators, electric stoves and cookers, televisions, mini music systems, blenders and food processors, toasters, microwaves and fans.

Equipment & fittings
The Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS) as of February 01, 2020, commenced the monitoring of a number of electrical equipment and fittings based on the requirements of thirty-one mandatory national standards. These electrical products include Decorative Lighting Products, Lamp Holders, Armoured Cables, Panel Board, Knife Switches, Conduit, Tubing, and Cable Fittings, Surge Protective Devices, Molded-Case Circuit Breakers, Molded-Case Switches, and Circuit-Breaker Enclosures, Cord Sets and Power- Supply Cords, Thermoset- Insulated Wires and Cables, Attachment Plugs and Receptacles, Dry-Type General Purpose and Power Transformers.
Importers and dealers of these products are now required to take the necessary step to ensure that they acquire the relevant standards and aggressively take steps to ensure their products meet the respective requirements. Products monitored by the Bureau will be flagged for examination at the time of importation and Inspectors will be visiting sale outlets across the country to examine products, which are offered for sale to ensure compliance. Importers and dealers will have to take the necessary corrective actions when substandard products are encountered.

Toys
The Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS) monitors toys and playthings under its Product Compliance Services Department to ensure importers and dealers offer items for sale that comply with labelling and quality requirements. During this Christmas shopping season, monitoring of these items has intensified by the GNBS so that quality and safe toys can be placed into the hands of our young children. Apart from the GNBS monitoring efforts, parents and guardians also have a significant role to play to guarantee the safe use of toys. Parents are encouraged to follow useful guidelines when selecting toys and playthings as gifts for their children who are the likely users.