THE Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS), in collaboration with several consumer-protection agencies, on Thursday engaged residents and farmers in Corriverton, Region Six, on their rights and responsibilities and the importance of making informed purchasing decisions.
The outreach was held during a pop-up consumer-protection expo at the Corriverton Bus and Car Park and brought together representatives of the Department of Consumer Affairs, the Competition and Consumer Affairs Commission (CCAC), the Pesticides and Toxic Chemicals Control Board (PTCCB), and the Government Analyst–Food and Drug Department (GA-FDD).
During the engagement, residents received information on purchasing quality products, checking product labels, verifying that goods are properly measured and taking steps to make informed consumer choices.
The participating agencies also outlined the services they provide and explained the channels through which consumers can seek assistance, lodge complaints or report concerns involving products and services.
Farmers and other members of the public were encouraged to pay close attention to product information and quality standards, particularly when purchasing agricultural inputs, food products, chemicals and other goods that may affect health, safety or livelihoods.
The outreach formed part of ongoing efforts to increase public awareness of consumer rights and strengthen co-operation among agencies responsible for consumer protection, product standards, food safety, fair trade and the regulation of chemicals.
By bringing several regulatory and consumer-support agencies together in one location, the initiative provided residents with direct access to information and guidance on the roles of the various institutions.
The agencies emphasised that informed consumers are better positioned to identify unsafe or substandard products, recognise unfair practices and take appropriate action when their rights may have been violated.
The engagement also sought to encourage greater public participation in consumer-protection efforts by ensuring that residents are aware of where to access assistance and how to report concerns to the relevant authorities.
