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STANDARDS IN FOCUS…GNBS MONITORS TWENTY COMMODITIES FOR COMPLIANCE TO STANDARDS
The monitoring of products in any country for compliance to standards is essential to ensuring that consumers get the level of satisfaction and benefits they need from such products. This can only be achieved if there are established national monitoring mechanisms and systems in place to ensure that goods offered for sale are of acceptable quality.
These mechanisms and systems must be grounded legally and guided by the requirements of standards and other technical requirements.
It is in this connection that the Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS) under the Standards Act of 1984 and amendment of 1987 has been monitoring some twenty categories of imported and locally manufactured commodities/products under its Standards Compliance Programme to ensure compliance to the requirements of national standards.
These efforts, which will continue in 2016, are aimed at protecting consumers from purchasing sub-standard products.
Commodities currently monitored by the GNBS are Domestic electrical appliances, tyres (new and used), textiles, garments, footwear, PVC pipes, Scales, Weights and measures, Animal feed, Furniture, Garments, Gas stoves, Cigarettes, Safety matches, Safety helmets, Fertilizers, Electricity and water meters, Cellular phones, Christmas Tree and decorative lighting outfits.
It is important to note that the Bureau does not monitor commodities such as foods, drugs, cosmetics, medical devices, plants and animals, meats and seafood as is the perception of many. It is only mandated to develop standards pertaining to these commodities.
The process of monitoring commodities is straight forward. All importers, manufacturers and dealers of commodities monitored by the Bureau are required to register annually with the Standards Body.
Entries (documents) pertaining to commodities in commercial quantities which are monitored by Bureau are referred for inspection by an Inspector stationed at the Guyana Revenue Authority Office.
Inspections are conducted at the ports of entry, points of sale, or at warehouses. In the case of commodities which require proper storage prior to and during sale, Inspectors conduct routine checks to ensure that storage requirements are adhered to thus avoiding the deterioration.
Once a commodity is found to be in compliance with its relevant national standards, it is released for sale to consumers. However, in instances where commodities fail to comply with the requirements, the appropriate actions are taken by the GNBS. These actions include the seizure of commodities, requests for the importer or manufacturer to relabel the commodity or requests are made for them to submit test certificates.
There are also instances where commodities are destroyed by the GNBS or importers are asked to reship non-complying items to the country of origin.
The GNBS will continue to monitor the quality of commodities that fall under its purview to ensure compliance to available standards and guidelines, which will ultimately provide consumer protection and satisfaction.
To make this possible, importers, manufacturers and dealers all have a significant role to play when selecting, manufacturing and selling commodities.
The GNBS wishes all its stakeholders success in 2016 as we work collaboratively to implement standards in Guyana.
For further information, please contact the GNBS on telephone numbers: 219-0065, 219-0066 or visit the GNBS website: www.gnbsgy.org
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