The Consumer Council of Fiji has raised alarm over unsafe and unethical trading practices, coinciding with the approach of the Diwali season. In a thorough market surveillance initiative, the Council conducted 353 inspections across Suva, Lautoka, and Labasa, focusing on supermarkets, open markets, and retail outlets selling popular festive items, such as sweets, dairy products, decorative lights, and fireworks.
The inspections revealed serious infractions, including the sale of expired dairy products, fungal contamination in pre-packaged garlic, tampered expiry dates on sugar packets, and resealed or damaged food items. Additionally, the Council noted instances of misleading advertisements that lacked clear promotion validity periods and contained inflated claims regarding “special offers.”
Seema Shandil, the Chief Executive of the Consumer Council, emphasized that these findings reflect a troubling lack of compliance with health and safety regulations and indicate a vital need for greater vigilance from traders and consumers alike. While many traders demonstrated cooperation and addressed issues immediately, severe breaches prompted formal warnings, whereas minor violations received verbal advisories.
The Consumer Council is actively working with municipal authorities, market associations, and enforcement bodies to ensure that traders adhere to their legal responsibilities during this important festive season. Consumers are encouraged to stay alert and report unsafe or unfair trading practices by contacting the National Consumer Helpline at 155 or utilizing the Council’s social media channels.
This proactive stance embodies ongoing efforts to enhance accountability and consumer safety, mirroring past initiatives from both the Consumer Council and the Fijian Competition and Consumer Commission (FCCC). With intensified monitoring to eliminate price gouging and deceptive marketing tactics, there is a concerted drive to protect consumers, especially during high-demand periods.
As the festive season approaches, the Council underscores the importance of vigilance, reminding consumers to thoroughly inspect products before making purchases and to remain cautious of potential scams, particularly in online marketplaces. Diwali, a time of celebration and joy, also calls for responsible shopping practices to safeguard consumers from unethical conduct in the marketplace.