Traders operating shops and canteens in Fiji’s maritime communities are required to prominently display the prices of goods, ensuring consumers know the prices before making a purchase.
Speaking during consultations on the proposed Fijian Competition and Consumer Commission Bill 2026, FCCC manager legal Krishan Keshwan said the proposed legislation required traders to display the prices of goods prominently and clearly.
Mr Keshwan said consumers should be able to see the price before deciding to buy a product, whether the price was displayed on the goods themselves, on the shelf where the goods were placed, or through any printed or electronic communication offering the goods for sale.
He said the provisions were intended to promote transparency in the marketplace by allowing consumers to make informed purchasing decisions, compare prices and avoid disputes over the amount they were expected to pay.
“The obligations applied to all traders operating in Fiji, including businesses located in maritime islands, which were also required to display prices prominently,” Mr Keshwan said.
“Traders selling price-controlled goods or services would have additional obligations under the proposed Bill, including displaying the applicable price control order together with the authorised prices in a conspicuous place where customers could easily view them before making a purchase.”
Mr Keshwan said the measures were designed to ensure consumers knew the price upfront and to reduce the likelihood of misunderstandings between traders and customers.
Speaking to the media on the provision, commission CEO Senikavika Jiuta said FCCC partnered with the Fiji Police Force, Judicial Services and the Ministry of iTaukei Affairs during island court sittings and visits to maritime communities on a quarterly basis.
“We do need to look into that much better and enhance our services,” Ms Jiuta said.
