THE Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS) continues to be at the forefront of ensuring that consumers receive the best possible products on the market, and that retailers adhere to the standards set to guarantee quality.

The Standards body says it is monitoring 15 more products at Guyana‘s ports of entry. Such products are for commercial use and include tyres, footwear products and domestic appliances, inclusive of microwaves, safety matches, safety helmets, gas stoves.

In an interview with the head of the Compliance Services Department, Quincy Troyer, Guyana Chronicle was told that the body will work in collaboration with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to monitor plastic products.
“But we would have developed a standard for it (monitoring of plastic products) and that system is still in the implentation stage. It has not gone to Cabinet as yet for approval,” Troyer told Chronicle.

The Compliance Department of the Bureau of Standards has been working on a standard act during the tenure of the previous administration but, with the new Government in place, efforts will be in place to ensure that the standard and environmental acts are passed in the National Assembly.

In Guyana, consumer protection laws include the Consumer Affairs Act of 2011 and the Competition and Fair Trading Act Chapter 90:07. There is also legislation related to financial institutions such as the Dealers in Foreign Currency (Licensing) Act No.19 of 1989; Credit Reporting Act No. 9 of 2010; the Insurance Act; National Payments Systems Act.
Some of Guyana’s consumer laws are enforced by the CCAC, which comes under the Ministry of Business. There is also the Department of Consumer Affairs which focuses on consumer awareness and educational programmes.