GNBS destroys over 5,500 tyres following inspections, records major successes in 2021
The Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS) said it has recorded a successful 2021 with major successes including the opening of three new sub-offices across the country.
In a statement on Tuesday, the body which is responsible for monitoring 17 categories of consumer products including new and used tyres, said a total of 5,514 non-conforming tyres were destroyed in 2021. The items which are monitored at ports and tyre shops, were “were rejected and destroyed at the time of examination, to avoid subsequent use,” the GNBS said.
During the year, the Product Compliance Department of the GNBS conducted 4,583 inspections for tyres, furniture, cellular phones, and electrical fittings/equipment, garments, furniture, toys and other items. This was an increase from the 3,843 inspections conducted in 2020.
According to the agency, aside from tyres, several products did not satisfy the labelling and/or quality requirements outlined in their respective National Standards.
Other items placed on hold or destroyed by the GNBS Inspectors in 2021 for non-compliance included 1,596 pieces of furniture, 10,426 toys, 21,923 electrical appliances, 418 gas stoves, 8,084 pieces of PVC pipes, 26,300 pieces of electrical fittings and equipment, 43,665 pairs of footwear, 200 rolls of textiles and 5,040 safety helmets. For some of the items placed on hold, some importers and dealers took the necessary corrective actions and these were released by the GNBS for sale.
As the National Measurement Institute, the organisation also enhanced efforts to verify weighing and measuring devices used in commerce to protect consumers and ensure equity in trade. To continue this exercise in a safe manner during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Bureau commissioned a Mobile Stamping bus in January 2021, which allowed for adequate social distancing and sanitization.
In 2021, a total of 44,501 measuring devices were verified which included 8,515 scales compared to 5,653 in 2020, 15,292 masses compared to 11,450 in 2020, and 19,129 electricity meters, as compared to a total of 27,554 devices in 2020.
In addition, with 187 weighbridge scales used in the Rice, Sugar, Transportation and retail sectors verified in 2021, there was a significant increase when compared to the 146 weighbridges verified in 2020. Further, 105 moisture meters used by millers to determine the moisture content of paddy supplied by farmers were verified in 2021, as compared with 59 in 2020.
Notably, the GNBS commenced the verification of breathalysers in 2021, resulting in 10 instruments being verified for the Guyana Police Force (GPF) and other private entities. In October, the Bureau also launched its Speed Guns verification service.
For volumetric measurements, in 2021 the GNBS verified 1,989 petrol pumps at Gas-stations countrywide as compared to 1,722 in 2020, 328 bulk meters at fuel terminals as compared to 270 in 2020, 67 storage tanks as compared to 30 in 2020, and 131 tanker wagons compared to 114 in 2020. These devices were verified for Rubis, Guyoil, Sol Guyana and other private companies countrywide to ensure measurement accuracy and conformance to safety requirements.
To fulfil its measurement role in the Oil and Gas Sector, the GNBS in 2021 established its Oil and Gas Department. Anticipating the arrival of the second FPSO, newly employed Inspectors were trained to take up roles in the new Department, as it continued to be fully involved in monitoring the verification of custody transfer meters on the first FPSO, offshore.
Finally, both the verification of devices and product compliance services were expanded to the outlying regions of Guyana during 2021 with the opening of three new sub-offices at Corriverton- Region Six, Bartica- Region Seven and Mahdia- Region Eight. In 2022, the Bureau will continue to expand its reach with the opening new sub-offices in Region Five and Ten.
