Mal – Practices continue in the Measurement of Fabrics and other materials offered for sale to consumers
The Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS) continues to encounter a number of mal-practices at stores and other sale outlets across the country regarding the measurement of fabrics and other materials offered for sale to consumers by length. This has created a great deal of concern for the GNBS which is the organisation responsible for ensuring that all weighing and measuring devices used in trade are verified, accurate and are used in the recommended manner.
During the second quarter of the year, surveillance visits were conducted by Inspectors to shops, markets and other sale outlets where weighing and measuring devices including rules and measuring tapes are being used. These visits revealed that pieces of sticks which had no graduation or markings were being used to measure fabrics, vinolays, carpets and similar materials. These materials were also measured using markings made on the edges of table tops, a mal-practice whichDuring the second quarter of the year, surveillance visits were conducted by Inspectors to shops, markets and other sale outlets where weighing and measuring devices including rules and measuring tapes are being used. These visits revealed that pieces of sticks which had no graduation or markings were being used to measure fabrics, vinolays, carpets and similar materials. These materials were also measured using markings made on the edges of table tops, a mal-practice which seems acceptable to some consumers. Further, at some stores measuring rules and tapes in use were unverified and sale personnel were unable to sell fabric in metric quantities.
In the circumstances, the GNBS is urging retailers of fabrics and similar materials to desist from using unverified rules, sticks and table tops that can provide inaccurate measurements. Such, materials must be measured using verified metre rules which are accurate and reliable and are available for sale at a number of hardware stores countrywide. Concurrently, consumers are encouraged to request materials in metres and centimetres lengths which would force those retailers who are determined to engage in malpractices to comply.
Meanwhile, Inspectors of the GNBS will continue to conduct follow up surveillance activities at retail outlets countrywide to seize and remove all unverified sticks used in measurement, and where necessary sales personnel would be educated on the use of verified metric rules and tapes during sale.
