Consumers to receive correct quantity of pre-packaged items

–– with launch of GNBS’ newest verification programme

THE Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS) will now be working to ensure that consumers receive the right quantity of pre - packaged items after making purchases

On Friday , the GNBS officially launched its newest verification of net contents of pre - packaged goods products sold by volume, count, frozen, aerosol, length, and products in brine or mass

Head of the Legal and Metrology Department

Shailendra Rai said the objective of the programme is to ensure consumers receive the correct quantity of the product purchased, and also to ensure equity in trade

“We are going to be visiting the manufacturers to ensure that when they do the pre-packaging, they actually do it properly , to ensure that they are using the right equipment and so forth And we are going to be checking the packages coming off of the manufacturing line , to ensure that the net content is actually accurate , “ Rai stated

The initiative also ensures that people who are packaging the products com- ply with the necessary regulations and requirements of the Weights and Measures Act

Persons involved in the pre - packaging process must be trained in the use of measuring instruments (GNBS-approved), and the metric system which is the only legally - accepted system

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We could prosecute any person found selling a pre - packaged good that is underweight, or is short in terms of measurement It’s an offence under the Act to sell something that is below the net content ,” Rai disclosed

He noted that while checks have not yet been done at the manufacturing level , some issues were found at sale outlets

“In preparation to launch this particular service , we would have done some groundwork at the sale outlet level; that is primarily at the supermarkets, and what we find is that there are discrepancies I can tell you in some cases, they were over, and in some cases, they were under.”

In cases where dis - crepancies are found , a non-conformity form will be issued , and products will be placed on hold , pending corrective action, for which a time will be given to do so. (DPI)

KOBINA Hammond , Minister for Trade and Industry of the Republic of Ghana will lead a government - private sector delegation here, from May 19 to 24 to further explore possibilities for trade and investment between Ghana and Guyana

Making the announcement on Friday, Guyana’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation said that among other Ghanaian Government Ministers on the delegation will be Bryan Acheampong, the Minister of Food and Agriculture, and Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum , Minister of Education The delegation will also include the Deputy Ministers of Trade and Industry and of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, and a number of private sector representatives

Additionally, the Ghana Chamber of Commewwrce will be launched on May 22, at 09:00 hours on the third floor of the Amici building

The delegation will meet with Ministers of the Government of Guyana and the private sector over the period May 22 and 23 at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre, the Ministry disclosed