– 405 shops and 1230 stalls inspected
CURRENTLY, inspectors from the Legal Metrology Department of the Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS) are in the process of conducting surveillance exercises at shops and markets throughout the country.
The primary objective of these exercises is to verify the compliance of measuring instruments utilised in retail trade. To this point, a total of 160 unapproved and unverified instruments have been seized and confiscated during the exercises.
From early May Inspectors have been conducting unscheduled surveillance visits to markets in the city and its surrounding areas, which encompassed Stabroek, Bourda, Kitty, Ruimveldt, Plaisance, and Mon Repos. Visits to markets and shops in the other regions were initiated in April, promptly following the verification (stamping) period. Thus far, 405 shops and 1230 stalls have been surveyed nationwide.
The GNBS continues to warn vendors and shopkeepers against the widespread use of the Blue Dial scales. These scales are not designed for commercial trade as their internal parts cannot withstand the rigors of frequent use. As a result, these domestic scales easily become inaccurate, robbing consumers and even users themselves.
Alternatively, the GNBS recommends that vendors and shopkeepers use verified electronic scales, equal Arm (Red scales) and platform scales to weigh goods offered for sale. To ensure measuring instruments are verified, consumers are urged to check for the GNBS approved seal which should be affixed to the measuring instrument.
For the remainder of the first half of the year, GNBS Inspectors will continue surveillance exercises at shops and markets across the country to remove all unapproved and unverified measuring instruments from retail trade to protect consumers.
To avoid seizure, unverified measuring instruments can still be submitted by users to the GNBS Head office, Sophia or to any of its Branch Offices across the country for verification.
