GNBS verification services protect consumers and businesses through reliable measurements

Jan 25, 2026 Features / Columnists, News

(Kaieteur News) – Accurate and reliable measurements are essential for the success of businesses across key sectors, including manufacturing, commerce, agriculture, health, and transportation. To operators within these sectors, measurement accuracy is especially critical to ensure profitability, transparency, consumer confidence and protection.

The Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS), as the custodian of the national measurement standards, is mandated to carry out verification functions in industry and trade with support to law enforcement. Through its Legal Metrology Department, and in accordance with the Weights and Measures Act of 1981,the Bureau provides verification services to users of weighing and measuring instruments to support fair trade, public health and safety.

Through verification, weighing and measuring instruments in trade and law enforcement operate within legally accepted tolerances, ensuring that quantities emanating from these instruments are neither more nor less. Hence, for example in the marketplace, the process protects both users who are selling and consumers who are buying.

To maintain accuracy and confidence, the GNBS uses calibrated measuring instruments which are traceable to internationally recognised standards. The procedures for verification are also internationally recognised, ensuring consistency.

From offices across the Administrative Regions of Guyana, GNBS Inspectors and Weights and Measures Officers conduct verification of newly imported and locally manufactured weighing and measuring instruments, and those already in use. This mandatory process is done twice annually, during the first and second half of the year. Based on order #4 of 2001, which makes the Metric system the legal system of measurement in Guyana, only metric instruments used in trade are verified by the GNBS.

Measuring instruments verified by GNBS include scales, masses, measures, petrol meters, bulk meters, tanker wagon compartments, electricity meters, measuring rulers, moisture meters, fuel vessel meters, storage tank meters, speed guns, breathalyzers and custody transfer meters on Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessels. Users can arrange with GNBS to have large stationary measuring instruments, such as weighbridge scales, hopper scales, storage tanks and bulk meters verified at their premises.

During last year, the GNBS Legal Metrology Services Department conducted 39,691 verifications of measuring instruments and 711 verifications of pre-packaged goods nationwide to support measurement accuracy in trade and law enforcement. These services are likely to expand in 2026.

Importantly, GNBS does not verify unapproved dial scales commonly used for domestic purposes, as these instruments are not designed for commercial use. Retailers, merchants, and other users are therefore advised against using such instruments in trade. Consumers are also encouraged to avoid purchasing goods measured using unapproved measuring instruments.

For retail trade at shops and markets, approved scales include red equal-arm scales, platform scales, and electronic or digital scales. Consumers are advised to look for the GNBS Approval Seal on these instruments when making purchases.

For further information, please contact the GNBS at Telephone: 219-0064–66, WhatsApp: +592 692 4627, or visit www.gnbsgy.org.

Discover more from Kaieteur News

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.

GNBS, Legal Metrology Department, measurements, verification

Latest News

GNBS verification services protect consumers and businesses through reliable measurements

Discover more from Kaieteur News

Similar Articles

Listen to the The Glenn Lall Show

Follow on Tik Tok @Glennlall

THE BLUNT OF THE DAY

Sports

Petra launches 12th Annual Massy U18 Schools Football Tournament

VIEW ALL SPORTS

Features/Columnists

The United States and the protection of Guyana

Sir. Ronald Sanders

Who Gains, Who Loses: The Global Cost of the Iran War, and the...

The GHK Lall Column

Thinking like Iranians, latching on the strategy

Publisher’s Note

Weekend Cartoon

Bridge Watch

> Berbice Bridge […]