— warns of prosecution

THE Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS) recently seized more than 50 dial scales which were not approved by the entity for commercial trade and has warned vendors and shopkeepers of persecution.
In a statement to the media on Wednesday, the GNBS said that a recent surveillance at the two main City markets, Bourda and Stabroek markets, unearthed the domestic dial scales.
“These domestic dial scales, which were not designed for the rigours of commercial usage, easily become inaccurate and results in vendors selling short- weighted goods to consumers,” the entity said.
The GNBS said too that it has over the years been encouraging vendors and shopkeepers to use only the recommended metric devices, which include the metric red equal arm scales and masses, metric platform scales, approved dial scales and electronic scales.
Additionally, the bureau said it has been using the various media to repeatedly advise consumers to avoid making purchases from persons selling with the unapproved devices.
“These sensitisation efforts will be magnified in the coming days,” the GNBS stated, while cautioning vendors and shopkeepers to desist from using unapproved and unverified devices in the conduct of commercial trade.
“Failure to adhere to this warning could result in prosecution. Hostile vendors and shopkeepers who obstruct inspectors of the GNBS from executing their duties would also be prosecuted.”
So far for this year, more than 500 unapproved scales were seized and removed from markets and other retail outlets countrywide by GNBS inspectors.