The holidays are quickly coming to an end and soon it will be back to school time for children. As always, during this period, there is a rush by parents and guardians to purchase school supplies, including school uniforms and uniform materials, footwear, socks, belts, caps, bags, lunch kits, water bottles and even computers and other electronic items that will aid learning. Even teachers at this time grasp the opportunity to acquire new apparels for the new school year.As consumers, it is very important for us to remember that when we make our purchases we must first ensure that we equip ourselves with the information needed to make purchases that will result in the best value for our money. The Guyana National Bureau of Standards is responsible for monitoring some products that will be specifically purchased for back to school purposes. Many of these products are imported and must conform to basic labeling and quality requirements, as stipulated in National standards, before they are offered for sale.By monitoring compliance to established labeling requirements, the Bureau helps to arm consumers with key information on the products they intend to purchase. A well labeled product provides consumers with the relevant information to make informed choices and ultimately gives guidance as to the product quality and monetary worth.Labels state the brand name which could be “high end” or “low end”. “High end” brands often attract higher prices and are of better quality, but they must be authentic and not the fake. Label information such as Brand Name, Name of Manufacturer and Name of Supplier help consumers to identify who manufactured the product in case there is a need to seek redress because of quality and safety concerns.Because our children wear clothing and footwear of varying sizes,Wholesale Hockey Jerseys China, sizes are important and must be stated on labels. As long as parents are aware of their children’s sizes, there is no need for them to accompany their parents during the busy shopping season. Items can be bought based on sizes specified on labels. However, it is advisable that parents, who are not sure of the sizes, take their children during shopping to avoid buying items that will not fit. This will only result in the likely return of such items to the store, or some really unhappy children if you demand that they use these items.Pay careful attention to the care and use warning and precautionary information stipulated on product labels. This will help to ensure the health and safety of children who will be the actual users of these products. There are cases where some school items like geometry sets and staplers are recommended for use by children within a specified age. Further, as parents you also will be guided by the care labels for the washing and preservation of products such as uniform, caps, rags, bags and footwear which prevent damage and prolong usage.Labels of goods imported, manufactured and distributed in Guyana must comply with the requirements of the Guyana Standards Specification for the labeling of commodities – Part 1: General Principles which is a mandatory standard. According to the standard, Product labels must be in English Language and state the Brand, Type of product, Name of Manufacturer or Distributor, Country of origin, and where necessary information on the care, maintenance and precautions for use, and the manufacture and expiry dates.Other standards are available at the Guyana National Bureau of Standards that address the labeling requirements for specific goods, for example: the labeling of Textiles, labeling of Footwear, labeling of Garments, etc.Consumers, as you engage in shopping for back to school items, take the “timeout” to read and understand the labels of the products you intend to purchase, especially if they are costly. Keep all your receipts which you would need to present if you need to take back an item to the store or make a complaint to the GNBS or any other Consumer Body. Remember not to compromise quality for cheaper prices. Our children are not always as careful as we are and may need good quality and sturdy back to school products.For further information on this subject, please contact the Guyana National Bureau of Standards on Telephone Numbers: 219-0065, 219-0066 and 219-0069 or visit the GNBS website: www.gnbsgy.org.
