The Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS) said its inspectors continue to find safety matches on the market that are not in compliance with its standard.

In a press release the GNBS said inspectors in East Berbice have found that poor quality Grayburn and Volcano matches are still being sold despite numerous seizure exercises and appeals to desist. These substandard commodities have been banned in Suriname and are believed to be smuggled into Guyana and sold at cheaper prices.

In addition to being inadequately labelled the matches threaten the safety of their users since they failed standard tests. Therefore the GNBS is “strongly cautioning consumers against purchasing these brands” while it advises importers, distributors and retailers who continue to flout the laws that they can face prosecution.