The Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS) has recorded major success in 2021, as the organisation continued to ensure accurate measurements in the trade and elimination of substandard products from the local markets.
As the country’s premier measurement institute, enhanced efforts were made to verify weighing and measuring devices used in commerce to protect consumers and ensure equity in trade. To continue this exercise in a safe manner during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Bureau had commissioned a Mobile Stamping bus in January 2021, which allowed for adequate social distancing and sanitization.
During 2021, a total of 44,501 measuring devices were verified. This included 8,515 scales compared to 5,653 in 2020. Furthermore, 15,292 masses were verified compared to 11,450 in 2020; and 19,129 electricity meters, as compared to a total of 27,554 devices in 2020.
In addition, with 187 weighbridge scales used in the Rice, Sugar, Transportation and retail sectors verified in 2021, there was a significant increase when compared to the 146 weighbridges verified in 2020. Further, 105 moisture meters used by millers to determine the moisture content of paddy supplied by farmers were verified in 2021, as compared with 59 in 2020.
Notably, the GNBS commenced the verification of breathalysers in 2021, resulting in 10 instruments being verified for the Guyana Police Force (GPF) and other private entities. In October, the Bureau also launched its Speed Guns verification service.
For volumetric measurements, in 2021 the GNBS verified 1,989 petrol pumps at Gas-stations countrywide as compared to 1,722 in 2020; 328 bulk meters at fuel terminals as compared to 270 in 2020; 67 storage tanks as compared to 30 in 2020, and 131 tanker wagons compared to 114 in 2020. These devices were verified for Rubis, Guyoil, Sol Guyana and other private companies countrywide to ensure measurement accuracy and conformance to safety requirements.
Last year, there was a significant increase in surveillance inspections, which are done to ensure vendors and shopkeepers are using approved measuring devices. A total of 5,719 premises were visited countrywide as compared to 1,217 in 2020. The visits, which were conducted by Inspectors and Weights and Measures Officers, resulted in 895 scales, 74 masses, 1 measure and 1 moisture meter being seized and removed.
Notably, a total of 5,514 non-conforming tyres were rejected and destroyed at the time of examination, to avoid subsequent use.
Other items placed on hold or destroyed by the GNBS Inspectors in 2021 for non-compliance included 1,596 pieces of furniture, 10,426 toys, 21,923 electrical appliances, 418 gas stoves, 8,084 pieces of PVC pipes, 26,300 pieces of electrical fittings and equipment, 43,665 pair of footwear, 200 rolls of textiles and 5,040 safety helmets.
For some of the items placed on hold, some importers and dealers took the necessary corrective actions and these were released by the GNBS for sale.
Finally, both the verification of devices and product compliance services were expanded to the outlying regions of Guyana during 2021 with the opening of three new sub-offices at Corriverton- Region Six, Bartica- Region Seven and Mahdia- Region Eight. In 2022, the Bureau will continue to expand its reach with the opening new sub-offices in Region Five and Ten.
