Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS) inspectors recently seized large quantities of cigarettes and unapproved dial scales.
In a press release, the GNBS stated that the seizures occurred during surveillance exercises that were conducted by inspectors of the Product Compliance and Legal Metrology Department.
It explained that spontaneous surveillance visits to several retailers in the Port Mourant, Corentyne, Berbice area resulted in the seizure of more than 107 cartons (1071 packets) of cigarettes which do not meet the requirements of the national standard as it relates to the labelling of tobacco products as well as the Tobacco Control Regulation of 2018.
It noted that several brands of cigarettes were not labelled in English, while other packages did not include a pictorial warning as specified by the Tobacco Control Regulations. The seized brands include Atlanta, Elegance Premium, Oris, Pine Sky 7, Djarum Black and Record.
Additionally, more than 1200 boxes of King Safety matches were seized and removed for failure to meet the requirements of the National Standard.
The cigarettes and matches will be destroyed as the GNBS targets other retail outlets during its ongoing surveillance exercises.
Meanwhile, the release said more than 150 unapproved Blue Dial Scales were seized during weights and measures surveillance visits conducted by the GNBS inspectors at over 1,000 premises (shops, markets, and other retail outlets), which were located on the East Coast of Demerara, East Bank, and areas in Region Two and Region Six. The release said inspectors continued to encounter the widespread use of the Blue Scale despite numerous warnings by the GNBS to vendors and shopkeepers to desist from using the domestic scale in commercial trade.
According to the media release, the GNBS Inspector will continue surveillance exercises across the country to remove substandard products and unapproved and unverified measuring instruments from retail trade to protect consumers.
