The Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS) conducts a National Standards Compliance Programme under which twenty-five categories of commodities imported and locally manufactured are monitored.

These commodities are monitored for compliance to national standards and include tyres, cellular phones, concrete blocks, textiles, garments, footwear, PVC pipes, animal feeds, furniture, gas stoves, cigarettes, safety helmets, seat belts, fertilisers, scales, weights and measures, paints, safety matches, Christmas trees and decorative lighting outfits, fluorescent lamp ballasts, electrical appliances, electrical and water meters and soap powder.

The objective of this programme is to ensure that consumers are protected from sub-standard goods, which are either produced right here in Guyana or are brought into the country by importers.

Under the standards compliance programme, stakeholders are required to be registered with GNBS annually by completing the prescribed application form and attaching the Business’ registration number, along with the registration fee of $ 25,000 for importers and $ 15,000 for used tyres and cellular phone dealers.

Upon completion of the process, a registration certificate is issued and the importer, dealer or manufacturer is provided with the list of requirements which must be complied with under the programme. In addition, relevant documents (such as test certificates) verifying the quality of the commodity imported are sometimes requested.

Importers may need to submit to the Bureau samples of imported items which they intend to offer for sale to consumers in order to ensure that these products have certification marks, are properly labelled and are suitable for use in Guyana (Electrical appliances especially).

Inspections of the commodities imported are conducted at the respective ports of entry, where Inspectors who are positioned there on a daily basis, examine goods and check customs entries.

Inspections are also conducted at the point of sale, storage bonds or warehouses. In the case of goods which require storage, it is important that checks be made to ensure physical surroundings do not cause deterioration in the quality of the product (example, tyres).

With respect to manufacturers, visits are paid to factories where products are examined to ensure compliance to national standards. If the goods retailed by the manufacturer are weighed or measured, Inspectors will ensure that all weighing and measuring devices have been verified for the period.

Note: Additional products would be examined by the department where necessary based on the availability of the relevant national, regional or international standards.

For further information, please contact the Guyana National Bureau of Standards on telephone numbers: 219-0069, 219-0062 or 219-0065.