The Price Monitoring & Enforcement Taskforce has kicked off a major two-day inspection operation across the Western Division from yesterday and today, targeting supermarket compliance ahead of the busy festive season.
The Ministry of Finance says that the multi-agency team—comprising the Ministry of Finance, the Fijian Competition and Consumer Commission (FCCC), the Fiji Revenue & Customs Service (FRCS), and the Consumer Council of Fiji (CCoF)—is conducting checks to verify the pricing of essential goods, ensure consistency in price displays, and monitor stock availability for consumers.
The Ministry adds that day one of the operation uncovered several serious breaches, prompting authorities to issue formal notices to non-compliant traders.
They say that among the violations recorded were missing or incorrect price labels, expired items found on shelves, and failures by some supermarkets to adjust prices in line with the recent VAT reduction.
They highlight that the Taskforce also identified misleading promotional practices, where items advertised as discounted were charged at regular prices.
The Ministry shares that inspectors further reported poor supermarket conditions, including leaking roofs, broken floor tiles, and unhygienic or rusted shelves and freezers.
They say concerns over meat quality were also raised, with some outlets lacking required temperature indicators and stocking soiled frozen meat—posing potential health risks to consumers.
They described these breaches as unacceptable, warning retailers that any attempt to exploit shoppers during the festive period will not be tolerated.
The Taskforce says that they have indicated that tougher enforcement actions and penalties will be pursued where deliberate non-compliance is detected.
The Ministry of Finance adds they and their Taskforce partners reaffirmed their commitment to safeguarding Fijian families from unfair trading practices and ensuring all retailers uphold the standards required under the law.
The inspection campaign continues today in supermarkets across Lautoka, Ba, Tavua, Rakiraki, and Korovou.
Authorities say their priority is ensuring full adherence to consumer protection laws.
