The Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS) says it seized and destroyed more than 12,000 packets of cigarettes and 10,366 electrical items this year after dealers and importers failed to provide documents required to establish that the products met national standards.
Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce Susan Rodrigues said the bureau would step up market surveillance and enforcement while helping businesses understand the standards that apply to goods they offer for sale.
“Consumer protection is our priority, and we remain committed to ensuring a marketplace where consumers can have confidence in the safety and quality of the products they purchase,” Rodrigues said in a recording shared by the bureau.
In a November 12 release, the GNBS said the cigarettes were seized from dealers in Regions Three, Four and Six, primarily because of inadequate labelling under the Tobacco Control Act. The bureau cited missing pictorial health warnings, which are required to cover 60 per cent of the package, as well as missing manufacturing dates, batch numbers and the required “For sale in Guyana only” marking. The brands included Atlanta Switch, Atlanta Blue, Atlanta Menthol, Darkis, Virginia Type, Maxmillian, Marshal, Carnival and Tabaca.
The electrical items were seized from dealers in Regions Three and Four during market surveillance. They included wires, cables, lamp holders, circuit breakers, extension cords, power outlets, receptacles, knife switches and plugs. The bureau said items lacked certification marks, countries of origin or manufacturers’ names. Some were incorrectly labelled and others carried no labels.
The bureau said it places products on hold when it finds they fail to meet requirements. Dealers and importers are given 21 days to submit test certificates and other documents showing compliance. The GNBS said the documents were not provided in these cases, and the goods were seized and destroyed.
The bureau has monitored electrical fittings and equipment under 31 mandatory national standards since February 2020. Ahead of the shopping season, it urged importers and dealers to check the standards for the products they sell, saying compliance can reduce safety risks, including electrical fires. It also urged importers to provide manufacturers’ warranties and address customers’ complaints about defective goods promptly.
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