41 traders have been warned for possible prosecution or placed under investigation following 804 inspections carried out nationwide by the Fijian Competition and Consumer Commission during the Christmas trading period.
In a statement, FCCC says the inspections were conducted between early December and the close of the festive trading season across the Central, Western and Northern divisions.
They say enforcement teams covered a wide range of sectors, including retail traders and rental premises, maritime operations, fuel and LPG, freight and shipping, as well as joint operations with other agencies.
As part of its intensified festive-season monitoring, the Commission says they also carried out 137 targeted night-shift inspections during December, focusing on high-risk trading periods and locations with a history of non-compliance.
FCCC Chief Executive Officer Senikavika Jiuta says the operations are deliberate and intelligence-led.
Jiuta says traders must understand that enforcement does not stop when business hours end, and the Commission will take the strongest appropriate enforcement action against offenders.
She says four breaches were identified during the night-shift inspections alone, while four health-related issues were also detected and referred to the relevant municipal councils for follow-up action.
Across both daytime and night-shift inspections, Jiuta says the most common breaches identified under the FCCC Act 2010 included failure to comply with applicable Price Control Orders, refusal to sell goods at the authorised or maximum retail price, and failure to display prices clearly and accurately.
She also confirmed that its stationery price surveys, conducted ahead of the new school year, are now nearing completion.
Jiuta says findings will be assessed to determine compliance levels and will be made public to help consumers manage back-to-school expenses.
She also reiterated that increased trading activity during the festive season does not excuse breaches of the law, saying that the festive demand is not a licence to overcharge or disregard the law.
She say FCCC will continue to pursue investigations arising from these inspections and will take enforcement action where breaches are confirmed.
The Commissioner adds that its first round of back-to-school stationery surveys has already been conducted and that monitoring remains ongoing.
Results will be published on FCCC’s social media platforms to assist parents as they prepare for the upcoming school year.
