STANDARDS CORNER:
LEGAL Metrology, as the mandatory checking of devices, is a fundamental component of the conduct and sustenance of trade, and
commerce cannot exist without it. It is essential for the 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. In our everyday lives, people make many purchases that rely on confidence in a system that ensures accurate weighing and measuring of
goods. Likewise, businesses need to know that they are also trading in a fair market place where no one company has an unfair
competitive advantage.

In Guyana, a legislative and practical enforcement programme governed by the 1981 Weights & Measures Act is in place to ensure that
consumers receive the correct quantity of products purchased. This objective is achieved by ensuring that all weighing and measuring
devices used in commercial trade are verified by the Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS) i.e. they are examined to determine
fitness for use and are tested to ensure accuracy.

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.

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.

Devices verified by the GNBS include: scales, masses and measures, storage tanks flow meters, measuring rules, electricity meters and
petrol pumps. Also included are devices used at shops, markets, supermarkets, rice and sugar industries, manufacturing companies,
hospitals and health centers, airlines and shipping companies, post offices, petrol stations and bulk terminals.

All importers and users of weighing and measuring devices are obligated to ensure that their devices are verified by the GNBS as
required by the Weights and Measures Act.

Verification of devices has commenced for the first half of 2011 and users of same are urged to submit their devices for verification
at the GNBS Head Office and Sub-offices in New Amsterdam, Anna Regina and Lethem, the nearest Weights and Measures Office located in
the Administrative Regions or any mobile stamping location.
For further information please contact the GNBS on telephone numbers: 219-0069, 219-0066, 219-0065.