VERIFICATION DEVICES ENSURE ACCEPTABLE MEASURES IN TRADE
STANDARDS IN FOCUS
Kaieteur News – The Guyana National Standards Office (GNBS) will this week begin mobile stamping of all weighing devices used in markets, shops and other retail outlets nationwide. Validation of these devices, which include scales, masses, and measures is essential to ensure consumers receive accurate measurements in trade transactions.
Authentication, which is done every six months (twice a year) also adds well to device users. The processors guarantee that devices operate well for retailers against loss protection due to the use of faulty and incorrect weighing devices.
Importantly, GNBS was given the mandate by virtue of the Weights and Measures Act 1981 to ensure traceable measurements. Tracking allows accurate and reliable measurements in the local and international markets; provide consistency of measurements worldwide.
The accuracy of measurements in trade, for example, a kilogram of potatoes or chicken by scale at the market or local store can eventually be traced to physical standards used by the GNBS, which can be traced to International Standards.
For easy determination, GNBS attaches an approval seal to any device it has checked including scales, petrol pumps and electric meters. For verified masses and measures used in retail, these are GNBS stamped
Last year, despite the pandemic, GNBS maintained its level of verification services across the country. During 2020, a total of 29,675 new devices were checked, which included 638 scales and 1473 vases. This indicates an overall increase in validated new devices compared to 2019.
Meanwhile, for devices already in use in shops, markets and other locations such as supermarkets, manufacturing companies, rice mills, hospitals, airlines, post offices, a total of 5009 scales, 9977 bases, 140 scales weighbridge, 202 meters of electricity, and 59 of humidity checked.
For this year 2021, GNBS will use its newly acquired mobile stamping bus to check devices in key markets and areas in Regions 3 and 4. This will not only improve the efficiency of service delivery but also protect Inspectors and promote social distance. from vendors and shoppers when authenticating devices.
Validation begins Tuesday, January 19 at Stabroek Market, Georgetown and then Bourda Market later in the week. Advertisements setting out the timetable for mobile stamping are published in local newspapers, radio, television and the GNBS Facebook page.
Vendors and shoppers and other consumers of weighing devices are encouraged to submit their devices for verification. Devices to check can also be delivered at GNBS Head Office, Sophia and Sub Offices in New Amsterdam, Anna Regina, Vreeden Hoop, Lethem, or to the nearest Weights and Measures Office.
Finally, importers of weighing devices are reminded that they must ensure that new imported devices are approved and checked by GNBS as required by the Weights and Measures Act.
(The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of this newspaper.)
For further information, contact GNBS on telephone numbers: 219-0069, 219-0066 or our WhatsApp number 692-4627 (GNBS).