AS the days wind down for the back-to-school season, the Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS) is urging parents and guardians to be careful when shopping, since fake products can be passed off as authentic. According to the bureau, standards are available at the GNBS that address the labelling requirements for specific goods, for example: the labelling of Textiles, labelling of Footwear, labelling of Garments, etc. The agency monitors these products according to the requirements of these standards.
“Consumers, as you engage in shopping for back-to-school items, take a “timeout” to read and understand the labels of the products you intend to purchase, especially if they are costly. Remember not to compromise quality for cheaper prices. Our children are not always as careful as we are and may need good quality and sturdy back-to-school products to take them through the new school year,” the GNBS noted.
The bureau explained that labels are intended to guide consumers by providing key information on the products they intend to purchase. A well labelled product provides consumers with the relevant information to make informed choices and ultimately gives guidance as to the product quality, monetary worth and manner of usage.
According to the GNBS, labels state the brand name which could be “high-end” or “low-end.” “High- end” brands often attract higher prices and are of better quality, but they must be authentic and not fake.
Label information such as brand name, Name of manufacturer and name of supplier help consumers to identify who manufactured the product if there is a need to seek redress, because of quality and safety concerns.
“Because our children wear clothing and footwear of varying sizes, sizes are important and must be stated on labels. As long as parents are aware of their children’s sizes, there is no need for them to accompany their parents during the busy shopping season. Items can be bought based on sizes specified on labels.
Care and use, warning and precautionary information about products, which most labels carry, help to ensure the health and safety of children who will be the actual users of these products,” the bureau advised “ There are cases where some school items like geometry sets and staplers are recommended for use by children over a specified age.”
Further, the bureau noted that parents should be guided by labels during the washing and caring of products such as uniform, caps, rags, bags and footwear which prevent damage and discolouration.
Labels of goods imported, manufactured and distributed in Guyana must comply with the requirements of the Guyana Standards Specifications for the labelling of commodities – Part 1: General Principles which is a mandatory standard. According to the standard, product labels must be in English Language and state the brand, type of product, name of manufacturer or distributor, country of origin, and where necessary information on the care, maintenance and precautions for use, and the manufacture and expiry dates.