Inspectors of the Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS) Legal Metrology Department are currently conducting surveillance exercises at shops and markets countrywide to ensure that measuring instruments used in retail trade were verified.
In a release today, the GNBS said that more 160 unapproved and unverified instruments have so far been seized and removed, with the majority of the devices seized being those blue domestic dial scales.
“Commencing in May, Impromptu surveillance visits were conducted by Inspectors to markets in the city and its environs including those at Stabroek, Bourda, Kitty, Ruimveldt, Plaisance, and Mon Repos. Meanwhile, visits to markets and shops in the other regions began in April immediately after the verification (stamping) period. To date, a total of 405 shops and 1230 stalls have been visited countrywide,” the GNBS noted.
The agency continues to warn vendors and shopkeepers against the widespread use of the Blue Dial scales explaining that this type of scale is not designed for commercial trade as their internal parts cannot withstand the rigors of frequent use. As a result, the GNBS said 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,” the GNBS noted.
The GNBS said its 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.
The agency said 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.
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