53 alleged breaches found during FCCC post-budget inspections

The Fijian Competition and Consumer Commission has uncovered 53 alleged breaches during its nationwide post-budget inspections, with businesses accused of failing to pass on the recent VAT reduction from 15 percent to 12.5 percent to consumers and other forms of non-compliance.

Traders were also allegedly carrying out misleading and deceptive conduct and failed to display or mark prices.

FCCC says they are now investigating these alleged breaches and outcomes could result in court proceedings.

They also confirm 1,374 pre-budget surveys and 331 post-budget surveys and 156 post-budget trader inspections were conducted nationwide to ensure traders were in full compliance with the FCCC Act 2010 and that the VAT reduction from 15 percent to 12.5 percent was correctly passed on to consumers.

FCCC says they will actively monitor the market across all divisions to ensure this benefit is passed down to consumers, with inspections and surveys being conducted in supermarkets, white goods retailers, restaurants, bakeries, pharmacies and hotels.

The Commission stresses a failure to comply with these reductions will result in strict enforcement action, as the FCCC has a zero-tolerance policy for non-compliance and will not hesitate to act against businesses that fail to adjust their prices accordingly.