DURING 2015, importers and local manufacturers continued to submit their devices to the Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS) for initial verification, before being offered for sale or put into use.As a result, a total of 588 scales, 1,445 masses and 1,580 electricity meters were submitted for verification, according to GNBS Public Relations Officer (PRO) Lloyd David.

Under the National Weights and Measures Programme, the GNBS, with support from the various weights and measures offices countywide, continued to effectively provide services during last year. David said the verification and monitoring of weighing and measuring devices used in commercial trade were conducted for stakeholders in the various sectors of Guyana, including the manufacturing, agricultural and retail sectors, to protect consumers and maintain equity in trade.

For weighing and measuring devices already in use, however, he said there was a slight decline last year in the number of devices verified (stamped), when compared to the previous year.

These devices included those already in use at shops, markets, and other locations such as supermarkets, hospitals, clinics, health centres, manufacturing companies, fish complexes, rice mills, sugar and food factories, airlines, post offices, petrol stations and bulk terminals.

“A total of 7,740 scales, 16,525 masses, 40 measures and four measuring rules were subsequently verified during last year. In addition, a total of 1,616 petrol pumps, 43 storage tanks, 157 tanker wagon compartments and 230 bulk meters were verified mainly for stakeholders in the petroleum and manufacturing sectors,” David reported.

Surveillance activities which involved the inspection of weighing and measuring devices used at shops and markets countrywide were conducted routinely during the year, to ensure that these devices were verified and were in acceptable condition. As a result, he said, 3,448 stalls/premises countrywide were visited. During these visits, a total of 399 scales, 347 masses, and 16 measures were seized and removed because they were either inaccurate, unverified, or in a deplorable condition.

It is essential for manufacturers, suppliers and customers of goods and services to have mutual confidence in the accuracy, precision and reliability of the measurements made at every level.

“The accuracy of measurements made in commerce — for example, the weight of one kg of potatoes or chicken — determined by a scale in the local market is ultimately traceable to physical standards used by the GNBS, which are traceable to international standards,” the Bureau official noted.

“This traceability allows for accurate and reliable measurements on the local and international markets, and provides for consistency of measurements worldwide. Consumers can therefore have confidence in the accuracy of the local systems of weights and measures,” he said.

By Rabindra Rooplall