Supermarkets, butchers and other meat retailers in Fiji are urged to stop the sale of lamb flaps.
The Consumer Council of Fiji made the call reminding those retailers that the sale of that meat product is illegal.
Council chief executive officer Seema Shandil said they discovered the sale of lamb flaps during its routine market surveillance.
She said their investigations found that most meat retailers had the notion that the ban was no longer in effect.
“This particular ban was enforced as lamb flaps are discarded parts of the lamb that may not be healthy for consumers. The Council is disappointed that this product has made its way back in to our market despite legal provisions in place prohibiting it,” Ms Shandil said.
She said they had informed the Ministry of Health and Medical Services about their findings for enforcement action and to ensure the product was immediately removed by retailers.
She exhorted butchers and other meat retailers to do the right thing and ensure self-compliance by immediately removing and discarding lamb flats from their freezers without the need for enforcement actions.
Lamb flaps are prepared from the underbelly of sheep which contains up to 50 per cent fat.
The sale of lamb flaps was banned in Fiji via ‘Legal Notice No. 14 of 2000 Order Prohibiting the Supply of Lamb Flaps’ issued under Fair Trading Decree 1992.
Ms Shandil said while the Fair Trading Decree 1992 was repealed in 2010 by ‘Commerce Commission Decree – No. 49 of 2010’, Section 162 of Decree No. 49 of 2010 states that any orders/subsidiary legislation made under repealed acts/decrees is still in force.
She said that clearly meant that the legal notice banning the sale and importation of lamb flaps was still in effect.
