Good news for consumers in Fiji as major price reductions have been announced for a number of items by the Commerce Commission based on the Price Control Order.
Commission chairman Doctor Mahendra Reddy has announced that there will be an average price reduction of 13% for potatoes, onions, tinned fish, corned mutton and beef, split peas and sardines.
There will also be an average of 12% price reduction for garlic, edible oil, powdered milk and liquid milk.
There is good news for people who love their lamb dishes as the commission has announced that there will be an average price reduction of 16% for lamb chops, lamb necks and shanks.
There will also be a 14% price reduction for rice, 10% reduction for margarine and imported butter, 20% reduction in the price of noodles and 19% reduction for salt.
These prices will come into effect from this Saturday.
Doctor Reddy said the commission’s officers will be on the ground to ensure that the new prices are imposed by the retailers and traders from this weekend.
He also warned that there are heavy penalties in place for retailers and traders who breach the Price Control Order.
The items that will be subjected to the Price Control Order are baby milk, baby food, imported butter, imported chicken, corned beef and mutton, all types of local and imported edible oils, imported garlic, locally packed and imported ghee, margarine, milk, noodles, onions, imported potatoes, rice, imported salt, sheep meat, sugar, tea, medicine, unleaded fuel, kerosene and premixed outboard fuel.
Doctor Reddy also said the prices are reasonable and is definitely not based on businesses making super normal profits through exorbitant pricing.
Fiji Retailers Association president Himmat Lodhia said the order will result in the standardization of prices however he said some businesses will face difficulties.
Lodhia said the order will weed out any unscrupulous dealers in the country.
Story by: Vijay Narayan/Sofaia Koroitanoa
Feature
Major price reductions announced
