As consumers continue to purchase groceries and other goods from supermarkets, shops, markets and other retail outlets, the accuracy of the weights and measures used in these transactions remain an important aspect of consumer protection.
Under the 1981 Weights and Measures Act, the Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS), through its Legal Metrology Department, continues to play a critical role in ensuring that measuring instruments used in trade are accurate. As part of this responsibility, the Bureau conducts verification exercises twice annually to ensure that these instruments operate correctly and provide accurate measurements.
The exercise is repeated twice annually because measuring instruments can lose their accuracy over time due to frequent use, worn parts, mishandling, or other defects. Currently, the GNBS is conducting its second round of verification for 2026. As part of this enforcement period, the Bureau is conducting a Mobile Stamping Exercise, during which officers travel to markets across the country and busy shopping districts to verify and stamp all scales, masses and measures used by sellers.
The instruments being verified include the red equal arm scale, platform scale and electronic scale. Notably, there is a National Standard for the manufacturing of the red equal arm scale. The standard “GYS 180 – Specification for Equal Arm Scales (4 kg)” specifies the requirements and materials to be used in the manufacture of these scales and masses. Manufacturers can purchase a copy of this standard from the GNBS and ensure that newly manufactured instruments are also verified before being offered for sale.
Verification helps to ensure that consumers receive what they pay for, promotes a level playing field for businesses, supports public safety, maintains confidence in private and public services, assists in the enforcement of compliance requirements, and helps to prevent fraud and unfair pricing. Once a measuring instrument has been verified and meets the applicable requirements, the GNBS affixes an official verification seal.
In this regard, consumers are urged to look for the GNBS verification seal when purchasing goods by weight or measure. The instrument should also be clean and properly maintained. Apart from potentially affecting the accuracy of measurements, dirty weighing instruments can contaminate goods.
Consumers also have an important role to play in protecting themselves and encouraging fair trade. The GNBS urge consumers to request goods in metric quantities, such as grams and kilograms. Solid goods such as rice, peas and Channa should be purchased by weight rather than by measure.
Meanwhile, the GNBS also verifies the net content of prepackaged goods. Net content refers to the actual quantity of product contained in a package, excluding the packaging itself. This information allows consumers to know how much product they are purchasing and makes it easier to compare quantities when making purchasing decisions.
In keeping with the National Standard, “GYS 212:2025 – Specification for Net Content in Packages,” the GNBS verifies the net content of prepackaged goods starting at the manufacturers’ premises to promote accuracy.
A fair marketplace depends not only on businesses using accurate measuring instruments and complying with established requirements, but also on consumers knowing their rights and taking an active interest in the transactions they make. Through verification, monitoring, and consumer awareness, the GNBS continues to support a measurement system that promotes accuracy, fairness, and confidence in trade.
For further information on GNBS Legal Metrology services, consumers and businesses can contact the Bureau at 219-0064–66 or via WhatsApp at 692-4627, or visit www.gnbsgy.org.
