The Ministry of Health has prosecuted 35 food safety cases over the last three years, resulting in fines of about $25,000, Minister for Health Ratu Atonio Lalabalavu told Parliament yesterday.
He said this highlights both the Ministry’s vigilance and the limitations of outdated laws.
“Over the last three years, from 2023 to March 2025, the Ministry has prosecuted 35 cases, resulting in fines totalling approximately $25,000,” the Minister said, noting that offences ranged from operating without a licence to selling food in insanitary conditions.
He said the prosecutions were carried out by Health Inspectors from both the Health Subdivisions and the Food Unit, but stressed that current legislation makes enforcement slow and cumbersome.
“The Act does not include provisions for fixed penalties or spot fines. As a result, cases can only be prosecuted in court — a process that can take months or even years,” he said.
Most of the offences — 32 cases — involved businesses operating without a licence, including supermarkets, coffee shops, dairy shops, takeaways and street vendors.
These accounted for $20,000 in fines. Three additional cases involved unsafe or unhygienic food handling practices.
Despite the challenges, the Minister said inspectors remain active. In the last fiscal year alone, more than 2,600 food establishments were inspected, leading to 372 abatement notices and six closure orders.
Mr Lalabalavu said the review of the Food Safety Act is now in its final stages.
“It is essential that we modernise this Act to address emerging risks and close enforcement gaps,” he said, adding that the Ministry intends to introduce spot fines to speed up action against non-compliant operators and protect public health.
