GNBS seizes & destroys over 20,000 pieces of substandard and unsafe electrical items and cigarettes

The Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS) plays a key role in ensuring that specified products sold, manufactured, imported and distributed in Guyana meet established compulsory national standards for quality, safety and labelling. The Agency is mandated by the Standards Act of 1984 to seize and destroy substandard products offered for sale, which are unsafe, defective and improperly labelled.

Among the products monitored by the GNBS are cigarettes and electrical fittings and equipment, which are monitored at the ports of entry and sales outlets across the country.

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This year, the GNBS’ Product Compliance Department seized over 12,000 packets of cigarettes from dealers in Regions Three, Four and Six. The cigarettes offered for sale failed to meet the specified requirements outlined in the Tobacco Control Act of 2017. The primary reason for the seizure was inadequate labelling. Additionally, key details including the display of a pictorial warning over 60% of the package, manufacturing date, batch numbers, and the required ‘For sale in Guyana only’ marking were missing from the packets of the seized items.