The Consumer Council of Fiji (CCF) has so far received complaints over faulty and defective products to the tune of $1.29million, as many Fijian households continue to face issues with substandard goods.
CCF chief executive officer Seema Shandil highlighted this during the World Consumer Rights Day celebrations at the Suva Civic Centre last week, saying product safety remained a daily concern for the council.
“For the council, product safety is not merely a theme for a single day—it is a daily reality reflected in the complaints we receive, the investigations we conduct, and the advocacy we undertake on behalf of consumers across our nation,” Ms Shandil said.
She revealed that between 2023 and early 2026, the council registered 1596 complaints related to faulty or defective products.
“Let me share with you what the data tells us. Between 2023 and early 2026, the Council registered 1596 complaints related to faulty or defective products, with a total monetary value of approximately 1.29 million dollars.
“This figure represents far more than financial loss—it speaks to the inconvenience, stress and in some cases, genuine safety risks that Fijian households endure when products fail.”
She said behind each complaint was a real-life situation affecting families.
“Behind each of these statistics lies a real story. A family whose refrigerator stops working weeks after purchase. A student whose mobile phone fails during exam preparation. A household dealing with an appliance that poses an electrical fire risk.
“These are not isolated incidents—they form part of a broader pattern that demands stronger product safety practices and greater consumer awareness.”
She added that the issue of product safety was not unique to Fiji but part of a wider global challenge.
“The challenge of product safety extends far beyond Fiji. Research from Consumers International, surveying 100 countries, reveals a sobering reality: only 13 per cent of people believe their national product safety systems work effectively.
“The situation is compounded by the fact that 28 per cent of countries lack any official body to report unsafe products, and even where systems exist, they are often limited in scope.”
Ms Shandil said global markets and the rise of e-commerce had further complicated product safety and accountability.
