ROLE OF THE GNBS IN THE JEWELLERY SECTOR
The Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS) continues to play a critical role in promoting standardization in the Jewellery Sector.  In this regard, the Bureau is responsible for the development of standards, which will help to regularize operations in this sector.

The GNBS also operates a Product Certification Scheme under which manufacturers including gold smiths and jewelers can benefit by choosing to implement these standards in their businesses, providing they have access to testing facilities and keep the necessary records.

To date, two standards have been developed by the Jewellery Sub-Committee.  They are:

(1) GYS 50-1: 2003 “Specification for gold articles: Marking requirements; and

(2) GYS 50-2: 2003 “Specification for gold articles – Guidelines for manufacturing, alloying and testing”.

The standard GYS 50-1:2003 which is intended to be mandatory, stipulates marking requirements and one very important element of this standard is that it requires that all gold jewellery be marked or labelled with the manufacturer’s identification mark and the assayed purity, either in karats or parts per thousand.

This standard was prepared with the intent to prevent fraud and deception arising from misleading labels.  It also gives guidance to manufacturers and helps them provide adequate labelling information, which will give guidance to consumers, when they wish to purchase gold articles.

On the other hand, the standard GYS 50-2:2003 is a voluntary standard, and was prepared with the intent to provide information to Goldsmiths and Jewellery on the manufacturing process for gold articles, using the short cut fire assay method, and to serve as a guideline for good manufacturing practices.

At the CARICOM level, the two standards, GYS 50-2:2003 and GYS 50-1: 2003 were adopted and merged into one Regional Standard and was approved by the CARICOM Organization for Standards and Quality (CROSQ). This standard will shortly be published as a CARICOM standard.

With respect to the testing of gold jewellery by a recognized test method, the Guyana national standards clearly outline the procedure for the modified fire assay or cupellation method of testing.  Prior to any marking or labelling of purity on these articles, either of these stipulated methods should be used.

Thus, complying with the above two standards would assure confidence in customers on the quality of jewellery manufactured, and create an atmosphere for a huge export market.

The GNBS is encouraging goldsmiths and jewelers to participate in the Product Certification Scheme which is voluntary and manufacturers desirous of having their gold jewellery certified could join the scheme.  Once the requirements of the Scheme have been fulfilled, the manufacturer implements would be granted a permit to use the National Standards mark on his product. Gold Jewelers are encouraged to take advantage of the scheme to access the numerous benefits to be derived.

Customers seeing the standards mark on gold articles would have the confidence that the manufacturer produces items of acceptable quality. Similarly, there would be a corresponding growth of development in the manufacturing operation due to the intense monitoring of activities by the GNBS.

For further information, please contact the GNBS on telephone numbers: 219-0062, 219-0065, and 219-066.