GEORGETOWN, Guyana, Nov 12, CMC – The Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS) says it has seized and destroyed more than 22,000 packets of cigarettes and electrical items this year after they failed to meet mandatory national standards for safety and labelling.
The GNBS said its Product Compliance Department seized more than 12,000 packets of cigarettes from dealers in Regions Three, Four and Six, citing breaches of requirements under the Tobacco Control Act of 2017.
The cigarettes, which included brands such as Atlanta Switch, Darkis, Atlanta Blue, Virginia Type, Maxmillian and Carnival, were found to have inadequate labelling.
The GNBS said the deficiencies included the absence of pictorial health warnings covering more than 60 per cent of the package, manufacturing dates, batch numbers and the required marking, “For sale in Guyana only”.
The agency also seized 10,366 pieces of non-compliant electrical fittings and equipment during surveillance activities in Regions Three and Four.
The items included wires, cables, lamp holders, circuit breakers, extension cords, power outlets, receptacles, knife switches and plugs.
According to the GNBS, the products failed to meet labelling requirements under the relevant national standards, with some lacking certification marks, country-of-origin information and manufacturers’ names. Others were incorrectly labelled or had no labels.
The agency said dealers and importers were given 21 days to provide test certificates, declarations of conformity and other required documentation after the products were placed on hold. However, the documents were not submitted, resulting in the seizure and destruction of the items.
The GNBS, which began monitoring electrical fittings and equipment under 31 mandatory national standards in February 2020, said the enforcement action was part of its mandate under the Standards Act of 1984 to remove unsafe, defective and improperly labelled products from the market.
With the Christmas shopping season approaching, the agency is urging importers and dealers to ensure that products meet the applicable national standards.
It warned that substandard electrical products could pose safety risks, including increasing the likelihood of electrical fires.
The GNBS also encouraged importers to provide manufacturers’ warranties and ensure customers receive timely redress for defective products.
CMC/ed/2026