Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS) inspectors last Friday seized 50 dial scales, not approved for commercial use, from vendors at the Stabroek and Bourda markets in Georgetown.
In a statement, the GNBS said the scales were seized by a team of inspectors, who were accompanied by ranks of the Guyana Police Force, during a market surveillance exercise to seize and remove defective and unapproved devices in use.
It explained that the exercise was conducted in response to the widespread use of the unapproved scales in many markets and retail outlets, observed by the GNBS, which has been urging consumers to avoid making purchases from vendors and shopkeepers selling with the unapproved devices.
It added that the two markets were selected as there appears to be the “pervasive use” of the unapproved dial scales at both.
The GNBS said that it has been advising vendors and shopkeepers to desist from using the domestic dial scales, which were not designed for the rigors of commercial use. “These scales easily become inaccurate and result in vendors selling short-weighed goods to consumers,” it explained, while adding that it has encouraged vendors and shopkeepers to only use the recommended metric devices, which include the metric red equal arm scales and masses, metric platform scales, approved dial scales and electronic scales.
It further noted that approved scales can be purchased from hardware stores in the city and from business locations across the country.
To maintain accuracy of measurements in commerce, the GNBS said it plans to expand its surveillance campaign for the rest of the year to seize and remove unverified and unapproved devices in use.
Meanwhile, the GNBS advised vendors, shopkeepers and other users of weighing and measuring devices in trade who have not yet submitted their devices for stamping for the second half of the year are encouraged to do so before the end of September, 2021.
