GNBS Core Services

GUYANA NATIONAL BUREAU OF STANDARDS

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WWW.GNBSGY.ORG | WHATSAPP 592 692 GNBS (4627) | TEL 219-0064-66

Welcome to the GNBS Ramrattie Karan Executive Director Ag

About Us The Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS), operating under the Ministry of Tourism Industry and Commerce is a semi-autonomous governmental organization responsible for standards and quality in Guyana.

GNBS was established in March 1985, under Act No. 11 of the year 1984. It has the legal status of a statutory corporation governed by a National Standards Council (NSC), which is appointed by the Minister of Tourism Industry and Commerce.

The GNBS is a revenue-generating agency and is also funded by the Government of Guyana. It is the only National Standards Body in Guyana. It is also an ISO 9001:2015 certified agency.

The GNBS is headed by an Executive Director and a Deputy Executive Director who work in alignment in the operations of the agency.

Certification Services Product Certification Product certification is a means of providing assurance that a product confirms with specified requirements in standards and/or other normative documents. At the GNBS a voluntary Product Certification Programme is available under which manufacturers claim that their products are conforming to standards and are validated by an independent third party. The Product Certification Programme aims to implement and monitor certification systems in industries to provide assurance that locally manufactured products conform to requirements of the relevant Guyana Standards.

What products are certified?

PVC Pipes Gold Jewellery Concrete Hollow Blocks Bathtub and shower units

Certification Services Laboratory Certification Laboratory Certification is the process by which a third party gives written assurance and recognition that a laboratory is conforming to specified requirements. Laboratories are certified by the GNBS to the National Laboratory Standard GYS 170 “General requirements for the operation of a laboratory”. Certification provides formal recognition that a laboratory has implemented a laboratory management system, thus providing a ready means for customers to identify and select reliable testing, measurement and calibration services to meet their needs.

What laboratories are certified?

Medical Laboratories Testing Laboratories

Internal Auditing The GNBS Internal Auditing Programme is geared towards providing auditing services to organizations, companies, and laboratories desirous of having an independent assessment of their operations, to determine conformance to objectives and criteria established by the client. These audits provide management with information (Audit Report) on the performance of their organisation.

Audits are used to assess conformity, evaluate the effectiveness and identify opportunities for improvement.

When an audit is conducted, entities are able to compare their quality management system to the requirements and understand if there are any non-conformances.

We do Quality Management, Supplier Third Party, Food Safety, Laboratory Management, and more!

Industrial Metrology Metrology is the science of measurement and its application. It represents the basis for trust in the results obtained.

Industrial metrology is concerned with the application of measurement to manufacturing and other processes and their use in society, ensuring the suitability of measurement instruments, their calibration and quality control.

Calibration is the comparison of measurement values delivered by a device under test with those of a calibration standard of known accuracy.

Why have measuring instruments calibrated?

1. Keep the measurements within the specified tolerances.

2. Maintain consistent product quality during manufacture.

3. Optimize the process and increase capacity.

4. Control operation and maintain safety.

5. Comply with regulations and quality systems.

6. Maintain universal acceptability.

7. Establish the reliability of the instrument i.e., it can be trusted.

Industrial Metrology The GNBS provides calibration (Industrial Metrology) services in the following areas:

Testing The Industrial Metrology and Testing Department of GNBS provide the testing of products to manufacturers in Guyana. Testing is done to ensure products meet the requirements of the national standards. It also helps manufacturers determine and demonstrate quality.

What testing services are currently available?

Gold Testing Type: Percentage of purity of gold/karat

Concrete Hollow Blocks Testing Type: Compressive strength and moisture content

Legal Metrology Services Verification Services The GNBS provides verification services for weighing and measuring devices used in trade and devices used within the health, transportation, manufacturing, and agriculture sectors in Guyana, to ensure equity in trade, consumer protection, safety, and health. This is in accordance with the Weights and Measures Act 1981 and the coordinating of the National Weights and Measures Programme in Guyana.

Under this programme, Inspectors of the GNBS and Weights and Measures Officers from the various outlining regions conduct initial verification of new weighing and measuring devices imported and locally manufactured. The subsequent verification of all weighing and measuring devices used in commercial trade is conducted twice yearly (during the periods January – March and July – September). Surveillance inspections are also carried out at shops and markets during the periods April – June and October – December to ensure devices are verified for the corresponding period. Additionally, the GNBS ensures imperial devices are not used for trade.

Legal Metrology Services Oil and Gas

Pursuant of Article 6 of the Petroleum Agreement, The Guyana National Bureau of Standards has been delegated to perform the functions of the Minister as set out under Regulation 12 of the Petroleum (Exploration and Production) Regulations/ Hence, the GNBS now performs the functions of measuring and certifying crude oil which is a very significant role in the Oil and Gas Sector. This ensures accurate measurements during the lifting of crude from the Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel(s).

Devices presently verified by the GNBS include: Petrol meters Breathalysers Bulk meters Compartments of Tanker Wagons Storage Tanks Scales, masses, and measures Measuring Rulers Electricity meters Water meters Moisture meters Custody Transfer Meters on the FPSO Meters of Fuel Vessels

Other Services Rental of masses (weights) Whether it’s running for quality checks, testing new procedures, or verification renting our weights is a great choice for many companies. Our inventory includes weights ranging from 5 Kg - 1000 Kg.

Business Development Training The Business Development Department focuses heavily on capacity building for businesses and individuals.

Our training programmes are aimed toward improving the competence of persons in establishing, implementing, and maintaining key management system standards and requirements.

Businesses and organisations can now take advantage of the GNBS new and customised training programmes, which include training on the Quality Management System Principles, Risk management, procedure Writing, Determining Internal and External Issues, Control of Documented Information, and ISO 9001:2015 Mandatory Documents and Records.

The training or capacity building sessions are either offered by the Business Development Department of the GNBS or in conjunction with external consultancy firms, onsite or virtually.

We offer training in: 1. Risk Based Thinking 2. Statistical Process Control 3. Process Mapping 4. Data Analysis 5. Root Cause Analysis 6. ISO 9001 7. ISO 14001 8. ISO/ IEC 17025 9. ISO/ IEC 17020 10. HACCP 11. GYS 170 12. Internal Auditing 13. ISO 22000 14. ISO 15189 Customized material based on the requirements of any of the standards above.

These courses provided the skills necessary to establish and implement ISO Standards as well as the competence to maintain their certification/ accreditation.

Business Development Consultancy In an ever-changing world with evolving needs, the survival of businesses depends on how well they can function in a competitive market. There is room for everyone, but the impact created can mean all the difference.

The Business Development Department of the GNBS gives businesses and individuals the means to create this impact through competence but how do we do this?

Our consultancy services provide the support that businesses need as quality and competency are ingrained in our operations.

Backed by our own certification to the ISO 9001:2015 Standard, we can ensure businesses realise the best outcome with nothing less than quality outputs.

Over the years we have provided consultancy services to several companies, many of whom have themselves gone on to being ISO Certified. These include organisations such as: 1. Art Williams & Harry Wendt Aeronautical Engineering School 2. Assuria General (GY) Inc, Assuria Life (GY) Inc. 3. Dr. Balwant Singh’s Hospital Inc. 4. Eureka Medical Laboratories Inc. 5. Guyana Rice Development Board 6. Nand Persaud and Company Ltd. Our Officers are trained and competent to provide consultancy services in the following: 1. ISO 9001 Quality Management System 2. ISO 22000 Food Safety Management System 3. Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point System (HACCP) 4. ISO/ IEC 17025 General Requirements for the Competence of Testing and Calibration Laboratories 5. ISO/ IEC 17020 Inspection Management System 6. ISO 15189 Medical Laboratories- Requirements for Quality and Competence

Product Compliance Product Inspection The Guyana National Bureau of Standards National Standards Act of 1984 and its amendment of 1997 ensures that products offered for sale conform to the requirements of Compulsory National Standards.

National Standards are available for a wide cross-section of commodities imported into Guyana or manufactured locally. Upon importation, products monitored by the GNBS are automatically flagged by the ASYCUDA World System based on their HS Codes. Inspections are conducted at the ports of entry, points of sale, or at the importer’s warehouses and bonds.

Products manufactured locally or imported that are found to be in compliance with their relevant national standards are released to suppliers. However, in instances where products fail to conform to the requirements, the appropriate enforcement actions are taken by the GNBS. These include seizure, request for relabelling submission of the requisite Test Certificates. In some cases, non-conforming products are destroyed, or importers are asked to reship to their country of origin.

All importers and local manufacturers of the products listed below are reminded to register with the GNBS annually. Dealers of tyres, cellular phones, gold articles, furniture and electrical fittings and equipment are also required to obtain a permit from the GNBS to sell these products.

Application forms are available on the Forms tab on our website, Head Office, and Sub-Offices.

The GNBS currently monitors seventeen categories of products: 1. Electrical and Electronic Appliances 2. Weighing and Measuring Devices 3. Textiles 4. Garments 5. Footwear 6. Safety Helmets 7. Safety Matches 8. Tyres 9. Gas Stoves 10. Cigarettes 11. PVC Pipes 12. Furniture 13. Toys and Playthings 14. Christmas Trees and Decorative Lighting 15. Cellular Phones 16. Gold Articles 17. Electrical Equipment and Fittings

The GNBS does not monitor products such as food, medical drugs, cosmetics, medical devices, plants, animal parts, meats, seafood. These products are all monitored by other regulatory agencies such as the Food and Drug Analyst Department and the Ministry of Agriculture.

Standardisation The Standardization Department is responsible for facilitating the development of national standards with the objective of improving best practices and enhancing trade opportunities regionally and internationally.

The process of developing national standards involves seeking consensus from a wide cross-section of stakeholders to ensure that their relevant interests are addressed in the final document. This is done through Technical Committees discussions and by hosting public consultation sessions. National standards include Specifications, Codes of Practices, Guidelines, and Test Methods. These documents form the basis of the monitoring, inspection, testing, and certification activities of the GNBS. Below are the steps on how a standard is developed.

WTO/TBT Enquiry Point In order to export successfully, manufacturers and exporters must know what the current standards, Technical requirements, and Conformity Assessments are in their export and target markets, as well as be aware of any new relevant standards or proposed changes to existing standards.

Failure to meet standards and requirements might result in products being returned or dumped, or in poor sales in the export market. To help ensure that this information is readily available in an easy to access manner, the World Trade Organization, through the Technical Barriers to Trade Agreement (TBT), requires that all members establish National Enquiry Points (NEP).

Who is the WTO/TBT Enquiry Point for Guyana?

Article 10.1 of the WTO/TBT Agreement, it requires that each member country establish an Enquiry Point.

The Government of Guyana designated the Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS) as the National Enquiry Point on March 15, 2010. The National Enquiry Point (NEP) is operated under the Mission and Vision of the GNBS, which is to partner with government, consumers, and key sectors through Standardisation.

Register for regular TBT updates with ePing ePing is a free online web service, offered by the World Trade Organization (WTO) that provides private and public stakeholders with up-to-date information on regulations in export markets around the world, including product requirements and standards. ePing’s email alert service allows registered users to receive SPS/TBT notifications of particular interest to them based on criteria such as products covered or export markets. ePing aims to bridge that gap and provide timely information about changes in Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) and Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) requirements from trading partners to producers, exporters, governments, and other interested users. ePing is of potential interest to all types of stakeholders, including government agencies, standardizing bodies, producers, exporters, importers, service providers, small and medium-sized enterprises, multinationals, international organizations, research institutes, NGOs, etc.

To register and access all functions for ePing go to www.epingalert.org Select language Click on “register” and fill out the pop-up form

How to Submit Comments Comments, questions, or queries about ePing can be sent via email to: National Enquiry Point Guyana National Bureau of Standards Flat 15 National Exhibition Complex Sophia Tel: (592) 219-0066 ext. 231 Email: wto-tbt.enquiry@gnbsgy.org

Codex Contact Point The Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC) referred to as Codex is the body established to implement the Joint FAO/WHO Food Standard Programme. Codex is an intergovernmental body whose purpose is to develop international food standards.

Mandate of the CODEX Alimentarius Commission: 1. To ensure fair practices in the food trade.

2. To establish international food standards for the protection and health of consumers.

Members of the CODEX Alimentarius Commission are required to have an official “Codex Contact Point” established in their country. Following Guyana’s admission into the Codex Alimentarius Commission, the Guyana National Bureau of Standards was established as Guyana’s National Codex Contact Point in 1985.

The CODEX Contact Point and Its Function The CODEX Contact Point functions as the link between the international Codex Secretariat and Guyana, through the coordination and promotion of all relevant CODEX activities within the country.

The National CODEX Contact Point The National CODEX Committee (NCC) facilitates communication among all relevant national stakeholders which play a role in ensuring food safety. The NCC is composed of members from the government and nongovernment departments and organizations concerned with food safety, food production and food trade, academic and research institutions, professional bodies, and other notable experts in the relevant fields.

Contact Us Our Location Flat 15 Exhibition Site Sophia Greater Georgetown, Guyana

Telephone Support +592 219-0062 / 64 / 65 / 66

Questions? Send us an e-mail info@gnbsgy.org

WhatsApp 24/7 Customer Support +592 692-GNBS (4627)

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