KINGSTON, Jamaica (JIS) — The Bureau of Standards Jamaica (BSJ) is advising users of laundry detergents to carefully read the labels on the products being sold to them.

“Certain basic information should be on the labels, for example the country of origin, the net content or net weight, which should be in metric,” said Head of the Standards Compliance Inspectorate Regulatory Division at the BSJ, Wendell Richards.

“The label should also state clearly what the product is,” he noted further.

Richards was speaking with reporters following an awareness session for stakeholders in the laundry detergent industry at the BSJ in Kingston on June 28.

The session was held in collaboration with the National Compliance and Regulatory Authority (NCRA).

It was staged to address inconsistencies in the industry discovered by the NCRA, which can affect the quality and integrity of the products being sold to consumers. These include noncompliance in relation to the compulsory national standards and labelling regulations.

Richards informed that it was mostly importers who were found to be noncompliant.

He pointed out that where breaches are discovered, the BSJ will take action, which could involve the detention and withdrawal of the product.

Richards said the BSJ will be publishing an approved list of detergents that have been tested and have satisfied the standards.

Meanwhile, Director of the NCRA, Orine Henry urged the stakeholders in the industry to ensure they meet the standards.

These are found in JS 1: Part 20: 1988-Jamaican Standard Specification for the labelling of commodities. Part 20: The labelling of pre-packaged goods and the JS 1: Part 1: 1992-Jamaican Standard Specification for the labelling of commodities. Part 1: General principles.

Henry also urged importers to do their due diligence before introducing laundry detergents to the Jamaican market.

“Labelling is critical. Submit labels to the labelling department to get approval,” she advised.

The BSJ will continue awareness sessions in order to ensure compliance with the regulations within the laundry detergent industry.

The NCRA is the regulatory authority established in 2015 to perform testing and other such functions previously performed by the BSJ.