STANDARDS IN FOCUS: Registration and inspections – Key for GNBS to monitor products offered for sale

Jan 21, 2024 Features / Columnists, GNBS, News, Waterfalls Magazine

Waterfalls Magazine – Having quality products on the local market is essential for consumers to get the level of satisfaction and benefits they require. The Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS) monitors 17 categories of products under its Product Compliance Programme for quality and labelling to protect consumers.

Products monitored by the GNBS include Electrical/Electronic appliances, tires, footwear, PVC pipes, weighing and measuring instruments, cellular phones, garments, textiles, electrical equipment and fittings, safety matches, safety helmets, gas stoves, cigarettes, furniture, toys and playthings, decorative lights, and gold jewellery. These products are examined based on the requirements of National Standards at the ports of entry, warehouses and at sale outlets before they are sold to the end users.

From the inception of the Product Compliance Programme, the GNBS relies heavily on registration of importers and dealers and the meticulous inspection process to ensure that items falling under its purview are fit for purpose. Additionally, these services respectively provide the necessary records of suppliers and evidence of what is offered to consumers in the marketplace.

For registration, consequent to Section 22B of the Standards Act of 1984, last year the numbers of importers, manufacturers and dealers registering with the GNBS and obtaining the necessary permits to sell products exceeded the figures of the two previous years. Last year, the GNBS registered a total of 579 importers, 770 dealers and 13 manufacturers. Completing the registration process is mandatory before inspections of items are conducted.

Regarding inspections conducted in 2023, the GNBS successfully conducted 6,618 inspections as compared with 5,793 inspections the previous year. Inspections of electrical appliances led with more than 1,700 inspections conducted, followed by 906 for garments, 843 for footwear, and 823 furniture.

Inspectors of the Bureau examine products for various labelling and quality requirements including certification marks, care and use guidelines, safety precautions, physical defects, and storage in the case of tires and footwear. Importantly, all items sold on the local market are checked to ensure they include labels in English.

Inspections continue to reveal substandard items. For importation, during last year more than 124,000 pieces of items that failed to comply with requirements were seized and removed. Meanwhile, inspections done at sale outlets uncovered 6,395 substandard products while dealers’ premises and at manufacturers’ premises revealed that 31,205 and 109 items respectively, failed to meet the requirements of standards.

The GNBS will continue to take appropriate actions when products fail to comply with labelling and quality requirements. These actions include placing products on hold pending relabeling, request for the submission of test certificates proving conformance to quality requirements, and adjustments to the method of storage, destruction, and reshipment of non-complying items.

The GNBS takes this opportunity at the beginning of the year to remind Importers and Dealers to get registered early. Application forms are available on the GNBS website: www.gnbsgy.org and registration must be completed before products are examined and released. To reduce processing time, after registering with the GNBS, Importers have the option to pay for inspections via Mobile Money Guyana (MMG).

Finally, stakeholders are encouraged to do their utmost to ensure quality products are offered for sale. It includes understanding the requirements and importing and selling standard compliant products. This will tremendously reduce the challenges faced by the Bureau as it continues to aid consumer protection through product monitoring and other services.

For further information, please contact the GNBS on telephone numbers: 219-0069, 219-0065, 219-0062, or WhatsApp:692-4627(GNBS) or visit the GNBS website: www.gnbsgy.org