“Know what you’re buying”

–GNBS urges consumers to shop quality furniture this holiday season

As Guyanese are preparing to redecorate their homes with new furniture this Christmas season, the Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS) urged consumers to place quality at the forefront of their purchasing decisions during this peak period.
From its website, gnbsgy.org, the agency noted that it monitors furniture under the mandatory national standard GYS 9-5:2003 – Specification for Labelling of Commodities, Part 5: Labelling of Furniture to ensure high-quality products are available on the local market. This standard, which was updated in 2003, addresses long-standing consumer concerns about the quality of furniture locally. It seeks to prevent low-quality wood products from being marketed as high-grade materials, while providing manufacturers and importers with clear guidance on proper industry practices and standards. Its enforcement by the GNBS helps maintain consumer confidence in furniture sold nationwide. The standard specifies that each label should clearly indicate the item type, the manufacturer or supplier, the materials used and care instructions, allowing consumers to make well-informed purchasing decisions. Consumers are also encouraged to ensure that these labels remain attached until the point of purchase, as a properly labelled item allows buyers to make better choices.
The standard seeks to prevent the misrepresentation of inferior wood products as premium varieties. Consumers should also check labels to verify whether furniture is made of solid wood or particle board. In addition, informed purchasing decisions help consumers avoid spending money on weak or poorly constructed items while contributing to higher-quality offerings on the local market. Concurrently, adherence to GNBS labelling standards motivates local manufacturers to produce stronger, safer, and more durable furniture. Further, furniture sellers are required to obtain a permit from the GNBS. Application forms are available on the forms tab on its website, Head Office and Sub-Offices. During the holiday season, the GNBS intensifies its inspections at ports of entry, warehouses, and retail stores to protect consumers from substandard or mislabelled goods. Furniture also falls under the Bureau’s Product Compliance Programme, which monitors 17 categories of products; therefore, non-compliant furniture may be seized or required to be relabelled.
For further information, please contact the GNBS on telephone numbers 219-0065, 219-0066, or via WhatsApp at 692-4627 (GNBS) or visit our Standards Portal at gnbsguy.com.