Tobacco and Suki vendors, retailers, wholesalers, manufacturers, distributors and importers must apply for their licences and registrations by the 31st of this month.
This has been confirmed by the Ministry of Health through its Tobacco Control Amendment Regulations 2019.
The Ministry says that this extension is due to the feedback that was raised during the Budget Consultations in Labasa and this is a one‑off extension and should not be expected in the future.
Vendors were to get their licences renewed before the 31st of January as per the amendment.
A representative from the market vendors during the budget consultations told the Minister for Economy that they were told by the Health Ministry and the District Office that their licences will not be renewed.
He said that this was because he delayed the payment of the renewal fees but he was unaware of the change in the dates.
