Standards Bureau to seize poor quality goods

Goods which do not comply with local manufacturing and importation quality standards will be seized at the port of entry.

In addition, inspectors from the St Vincent and the Grenadines Bureau of Standards (SVGBS) will be carrying out random checks and where such goods are found on the shelves, they will be removed.

This warning from the SVGBS comes as it moves to both sensitise the importers and manufacturers and enforce quality standards laws.{{more}}

“The SVGBC is therefore urging importers, dealers, retailers, and manufacturers to take immediate steps to obtain the relevant information which will help them to comply with regulations and guidelines outlined in national standards. Failure to do so will result in noncompliant goods being seized

and removed or placed on ‘hold’ by inspectors during surveillance exercises, until requirements are complied with,” it warned.

The bureau said that there are a number of measures, required under law, to which manufacturers and importers must adhere. Among them is a requirement that all instruction manuals, brochures, or leaflets which accompany an item are to be published in English. Also if the item is to be assembled, instruction manuals or brochures must be included.

All commodities said the bureau official should be fit for

the purpose intended and safe for use. Importers should

select their suppliers carefully so as to obtain goods which comply with local quality specifications.

Copies of the standards can be obtained from the SVGBS at Campden Park.

As part of activities to mark World Standards Day tomorrow, the SVGBS will host a series of activities to sensitise various groups, including students, processors, manufacturers, the business community and the general public on the increasing relevance of standards.

The activities will include radio and television programmes, staff capacity building seminars, workshops for stakeholders under the theme “Standards: Big benefits for small business”; and outreach programmes to schools as well as to small and micro

businesses.