GNBS in Focus Issue 04

GNBS in Focus

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GNBS IN FOCUS

Executive Director’s (Ag) Message – Caricom Day CARICOM Day Greetings from the GNBS to all Nationals residing in the Region and the Diaspora.

CARICOM has had many successes since its establishment including the formation of its Organisation

for

Standards

and

Quality

–

Ms.Ramrattie Karan Executive Director (Ag)

CROSQ –exactly two decades ago on July 05,

2001.

Standards including

Through Bodies

the

CROSQ,

across

Guyana

National

member

National

states

Bureau

of

Photo credits Aishah Hussain

Standards (GNBS) are able to incessantly promote

efficiency

and

competitive

production of goods and services across the Region.

The

GNBS

is

proud

to

do

its

part

in

the

process of regional integration through the process

of

Standardisation

and

the

verification of quality. This serves to remove barriers to trade and is in tandem with the Communications CARICOM’

being

strengthen

the

Campaign rolled

spirit

of

out

this

‘I

AM

year

community

in

to the

region.

The GNBS looks forward to working with its regional

counterparts

to

promote

greater

cooperation and the implementation of the Regional Quality Infrastructure programme. #WeAreCARICOM

01

George DeFreitas Syeid Ibrahim

Editorial Contributors Lloyd David Bibi Khatoon

Concept & Design Aishah Hussain

GNBS IN FOCUS

Table of Contents 16

05

05

GNBS COLLABORATES

22

01

Executive Director's (Ag) Message- Caricom Day

WITH IICA AND GCCI

03

GNBS Welcomes New National Standards Council

06

ANAMAYAH MEMORIAL HOSPITAL LABORATORY RECERTIFIED

04

MOU Signed with American Petroleum Institute to Improve Support Services

12

Business Development Officers Conduct Training on Food Safety Requirements

16

GNBS STAFF COP 1st

13

EMANCIPATION

Over 6,000 Substandard Electrical Items Destroyed

and 3rd PLACE PRIZES 14

GNBS Standards Portal Launched

15

GNBS Partners with NAREI to Train Staff

17

Oil And Gas Inspectors Trained

Half Weights and

18

Meet The GNBS Team

Measures Activities

19

Tips For Millers/ Farmers

20

GNBS Recertifies GAFSONS Concrete

COMPETITION

22

GNBS Completes First

Hollow Blocks 21

Inspectors Trained to Better Monitor Domestic Gas Stoves

23

Upcoming Events

02

GNBS IN FOCUS

GNBS WELCOMES NEW NATIONAL STANDARDS COUNCIL The GNBS in August welcomed a new National Standards Council (NSC), chaired by Mr.

Vladim Persaud, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Public Works. Mr. Persaud in his first address at the Bureau highlighted that the Government is committed to providing support to the GNBS to ensure its functions are carried out optimally. Additionally, he stated that the NSC is pleased to commence its leadership of the GNBS and is committed to effectively guide and support the GNBS as it serves all sectors. The council is vicechaired by Ms. Natasha Beerjit-Deonarine, while the other members of the NSC are Mr. Patrick Dial, Mr. Robert Anthony Ross, Mr. Maxwell Johnson, Ms. Nicola Namdeo, Ms. Thandi McAllister

and

the

Executive

Director

(Ag)

Ms.

Ramrattie

Karan

who

is

an

Ex-Officio

member.

Mr. Vladim Persaud Chairman

Mr. Patrick Dial Member

Ms. Nicola Namdeo Member

03

Ms. Natasha Beerjit-Deonarine Vice-Chairperson

Mr. Robert Anthony Ross Member

Ms. Thandi McAllister Member

Mr. Maxwell Johnson Member

Ms. Ramrattie Karan Executive Director (Ag), GNBS Ex-Officio

GNBS IN FOCUS

04

GNBS IN FOCUS

GNBS COLLABORATES WITH IICA AND GCCI TO TRAIN AGRO-PROCESSORS/FOOD MANUFACTURERS

Through a collaboration with the Inter- American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA), the GNBS Business Development Department in August provided training to nine (9) agroprocessors/food manufacturers on Food Safety Prerequisites for accessing export markets. The training, hosted in the GNBS Boardroom of the GNBS’, was geared towards raising participants’ awareness of key food safety prerequisites necessary to enhance consumer acceptance of their products in the increasingly competitive local, regional and international markets.

In

addition,

the

Business

Development

Department

also

partnered

with

the

Georgetown

Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) to facilitate a two-day training programme for Agro-processors

and

Food

Manufacturers

on

Understanding

Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) System.

05

the

Requirements

of

Hazard

GNBS IN FOCUS

ANAMAYAH MEMORIAL HOSPITAL LABORATORY RECERTIFIED TO GYS 170:2009 STANDARD

Having successfully maintained the requirements of the GYS 170:2009 Standard “General requirements for the operation of a laboratory,” the Anamayah Memorial Hospital Laboratory was on August 19 recertified under the GNBS’ Certification Programme. The hospital also received a plaque from the GNBS for its continued conformance to the standard.

In a brief ceremony, the plaque and certificate were handed over by GNBS Technical Officer, Latchman Mootoosammi, to the Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Ian Anamayah in the presence of

Medical

Director,

Dr.

Ryan

Anamayah

and

the

Laboratory’s

Quality

Manager,

Ms.

Raywattie Hoosain.

The GNBS team also presented two Certification stickers to the laboratory, and these were placed at the entrance of the facility to signal to customers that the laboratory is certified.

06

September - October, 2021

Risk-Based Thinking

August 31 – September 01, 2021 | 8:30h – 16:00h

Data Analysis

September 02-03, 2021 | 8:30h – 16:00h

Process Mapping September 06-07, 2021 | 8:30h – 16:00h

Understanding the requirements of the ISO 9001:2015 Standard September 13-14, 2021

Good Agricultural Practices

October 25-26, 2021 | 08:30h – 16:00h

GNBS IN FOCUS

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT OFFICERS CONDUCT TRAINING ON FOOD SAFETY REQUIREMENTS Officers of the Business Development Department facilitated a three-day “Train the Trainers” programme on good manufacturing practices and Food Safety requirements

for

officers

of

the

Guyana

Food

Safety

Authority

(GFSA).

The

training focused on understanding the requirements of the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) System. It will enable those who participated to share information and conduct training exercises with Food Manufacturers to help them systematically manage food safety in their operations.

In addition, eight Agro-processors and Food Manufacturers have completed a two-day training programme on understanding the requirements of the HACCP System, to better manage food safety in their operations.

12

GNBS IN FOCUS

OVER 6,000 SUBSTANDARD ELECTRICAL ITEMS DESTROYED The Product Compliance Department

Electrical items are monitored based on

of

31

the

6,867

GNBS

seized

substandard

and

electrical

fittings

mandatory

Importers

and

Dealers

are

to

which can be purchased at the GNBS.

which

include

In

receptacles,

Product Compliance Services underwent

outlets,

knife

Inspectors

were

Equipment, Fittings, and Appliances that

July

19

following

on

our

a

on

session

of

switches and surge protective devices, destroyed

training

the

standards,

breakers, lamp holders, power cords, power

addition,

mandatory

urged

2021.

items

the

standards.

adhere

These

to

national

and equipment during the first half of

Electrical

approval for destruction.

are monitored by the GNBS. This training

The destroyed items were seized from

session,

which

sale outlets in Regions Three and Four

offered

guidance

after

test

accurately identify the various labeling

certificates or certificates of origin of

requirements of all electrical equipment,

the products. There were also cases

fittings, and appliances in accordance

where there were no labels in keeping

with the standards.

dealers

failed

to

provide

with the National Standard.

13

destroyed

lasted to

for

two

days

Inspectors

to

GNBS IN FOCUS

GNBS STANDARDS PORTAL LAUNCHED With

over

500

readily

available

national standards, the GNBS has launched its Standards Portal. The portal,

which

is

accessible

https://gnbsguy.com/

@

provides

real-time updates, the scope of the standards them

and

further

according

to

classifies

their

status,

which includes those that are under review. The portal was welcomed

by Executive Director (Ag) of the GNBS,

Ms.

Ramrattie

Karan

who

noted, “… the portal is timely, as it provides

a

public

stakeholders

to

platform

access

about

available

including

those,

for

details

standards

which

will

be

adopted from API.” Manufacturers, suppliers

and

other

stakeholders

are encouraged to visit the GNBS’ website

to

access

Portal

and

the

determine

standards apply to them.

14

Standards what

GNBS IN FOCUS

GNBS PARTNERS WITH NAREI TO TRAIN STAFF GNBS in collaboration with National Agricultural & Research Extension Institute (NAREI) on July 01 conducted an internal capacity building training session with Inspectors of the Bureau. Participants were taught simple methods to establish a kitchen garden and other good agriculture practices. This training is part of a one-year staff development programme, which will take place quarterly. It covers three components: products and offering services, life hacks and soft skill programming.

15

GNBS IN FOCUS

GNBS STAFF COP 1st and 3rd PLACE PRIZES IN Ministry of Tourism Industry and Commerce EMANCIPATION COMPETITION Hon. Oneidge Walrond, Minister of Tourism Industry and Commerce on August 17 presented a trophy and prizes to two staff of the GNBS’ Industrial Metrology and Testing Department who copped first and third places in the Ministry's and its Sub-Agencies Emancipation Day Attire Competition.

First

Place

Matbadal

Winnerreceived

Mr. their

Executive Director (Ag).

16

Klondyke prizes

in

Rodney the

and

Third

presence

Ms.

Place

Winner-Mr.

Ramrattie

Karan,

Vishnu GNBS

GNBS IN FOCUS

OIL AND GAS INSPECTORS TRAINED inspectors

of

participated

our

in

a

Oil

&

Gas

Capacity

Department

Building

training

programme on Petroleum Measurements in July.

This training was part of a two-week programme facilitated by the University of Texas (PETEX). It will aid in building Inspectors’ competence in the monitoring

of

the

custody

transfer

process

of

Guyana’s Crude Oil as production moves apace.

As the National Measurement Institute, the GNBS plays a critical role in the country’s oil and gas industry. The Bureau is responsible for ensuring that measuring instruments used on the Floating Production

Storage

and

Offloading

(FPSO)

vessel is verified to deliver the right quantity of crude to tankers offshore.

17

GNBS IN FOCUS

MEET THE GNBS TEAM

Team members featured in July & August

Tarla Parasram, Klondyke Rodney, Jo-Ann Busgith, George DeFreitas (Top row)

Rondell Henry, Vishnu Ramlagan, Sheri-Ann Husbands, Lionel Schultz, Latchman Mootoosammi (Bottom row)

18

GNBS IN FOCUS

TIPS FOR MILLERS/ FARMERS

As rice farmers and millers commence the second rice crop for 2021, the GNBS is encouraging them to ensure transparency the buying selling process of paddy, including the use of verified measuring devices at mills.

Below are a number of tips farmers and millers should consider during transactions.

Farmers should: Be present at mills to oversee measuring of paddy sold to millers.

Ensure scales and moisture meters are stamped by the GNBS. Ensure commercial moisture meters are used by millers.

Ensure that the indication on the scale and moisture meter is at zero before weighing or measuring commences.

Millers should: Ensure scales, masses and moisture meters are verified by the GNBS prior to use.

Ensure competent personnel are assigned to conduct measurements.

Determine moisture and dockage using specified instruments and not estimate same.

Facilitate

the

witnessing

of

the

weighing

of

their

paddy

and

the

determination of moisture and dockage content by farmers.

Ensure all transactions are conducted in metric units of measurement.

Promptly address queries raised by farmers to ensure transparency.

19

GNBS IN FOCUS

GNBS RECERTIFIES GAFSONS CONCRETE HOLLOW BLOCKS TThe GNBS on July 12 recertified four-inch concrete Gafsons

hollow

Industries

Standard Load

blocks

manufactured

Limited

GYS

215:2003

Bearing

Masonry

to

the

by

Guyana

Specification Concrete

for

Units

(Reapproved 2018). This certification process is done annually following a successful audit based on the requirements of the Standard.

Certification

provides

assurance

to

customers that the product has been tested and is adhering to qualityrequirements.

A certificate permitting the use of the GNBS Standards

Mark

presented

to

Manager Head

of

Mr.

along the

a

Plaque

company's

Bharath

GNBS

with

Rampersad

Certification

was

Factory by

the

Services

Department, Ms. Andrea Mendonca.

20

GNBS IN FOCUS

INSPECTORS TRAINED TO BETTER MONITOR DOMESTIC GAS STOVES Inspectors

of

our

Product

Compliance

Services

Department

in

July

completed an in-house training session on Domestic Gas Stoves for use with Liquefied Petroleum Gases. The training session aimed at enabling the Officers to improve their understanding and to equip them with the necessary knowledge and skills to conduct inspections in accordance with the

respective

national

standards.

Inspectors

monitor

Stoves under the GNBS Product Compliance programme.

21

domestic

Gas

GNBS IN FOCUS

The GNBS has commenced its second period of verification for this year, to ensure

all

weighing

and

measuring

devices used for trade are accurate, including those at markets and shops across

the

country.

Known

stamping

exercise,

commenced

on

July

as

the

verification 12

and

will

VERIFICATION OF MEASURING DEVICES ONGOING FOR THE SECOND HALF OF 2021

continue into September. With the use of a mobile stamping bus in Regions four and three, and at offices across the

country,

verify

all

specified

the

GNBS

measuring by

the

1981

is

working

devices Weights

to as

and

Measures Act. Vendors check

and

our

shopkeepers,

Facebook

page,

you the

can daily

newspapers and listen to the radio to know when we’ll be at a location near you.

22

GNBS in Focus

National Quality Awards

World Standards Day 2021 Amerindian Heritage Activities Consumer Protection Mini Expo Business Development New Training Courses 23

C

EBRATIN L G E

36 YEARS

O

Y F Q T I UAL