THE Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS) is urging all users of measuring rules for trade to have their devices verified for the first half of this year, as the verification period will end on March 28. Verification exercises conducted so far for this year have revealed that users of scales, masses and measures have been submitting their devices for verification (stamping) for the first half of the year. However, the submission of measuring rules for verification has been meager despite the commencement of verification since the beginning of January, 2013.  

The GNBS also emphasized in a recent press release that all measuring rules must be in metric units and must be submitted to the bureau’s office or any of its sub-offices and weights and measures offices countrywide.

The GNBS said further that it continues to receive reports of malpractices at stores and other sales outlets across the country regarding the measurement of fabrics and other materials offered for sale to consumers by length. These malpractices include the use of countertops and pieces of sticks as measuring instruments.
This has created a great deal of concern for the GNBS which is the organisation responsible for ensuring that all weighing and measuring devices used in trade are verified, accurate and are used in the recommended manner.

Surveillance visits

During the second quarter of this year, the GNBS will conduct weights and measures surveillance visits to shops, markets, stores and other business outlets countrywide and all unverified devices including measuring rulers, sticks and tapes used to measure fabrics, vinolays, carpets and similar materials will be seized and removed.

In the circumstances, the GNBS is urging retailers of fabrics and similar materials which are measured by length to submit their metre rules and tapes to the bureau during this verification period which ends on March 28, 2013. Concurrently, consumers are encouraged to be vigilant during their purchases and to request materials in metres and centimeters, the GNBS concluded.