The Consumer Council has reported a significant number of compliance breaches during intensified market surveillance amidst the festive season, highlighting serious concerns regarding pricing accuracy among supermarkets across the country. Chief Executive Seema Shandil revealed that since August 1, the Council has conducted over 1,100 inspections across various retail outlets, including supermarkets, eateries, and service providers. Out of the 297 supermarket inspections, 222 instances of non-compliance were identified.
These violations encompassed a range of issues such as discrepancies between shelf prices and checkout prices, absence of price tags, misleading advertisements, and breaches of price control regulations. Shandil noted that these breaches have become increasingly noticeable during the busy festive shopping period, a time when consumers often shop in haste.
“The pattern that we are observing looks deliberate. Some retailers seem to be taking advantage of consumer urgency and holiday distractions to increase their profits at the expense of hardworking Fijian families. This behavior is not only unethical but undermines the trust foundational to our marketplace,” Shandil stated.
Furthermore, the Council has raised alarms about food safety practices, identifying concerns such as the sale of expired goods, dented or rusty canned products, inadequate storage conditions, overcrowded freezers, and pest infestations within certain supermarkets. Despite these repeated violations being against the Food Safety Act, supermarkets continue to disregard these essential regulations.
In light of these findings, the Suva Retailers Association has urged its members to adhere strictly to the established regulations. The Consumer Council has pledged to collaborate with enforcement bodies, including health inspectors and the Price Monitoring and Enforcement Taskforce, to tackle these violations effectively.
Consumers are advised to stay vigilant by monitoring checkout scanners, reviewing receipts before leaving stores, and reporting any discrepancies promptly. This proactive approach will help ensure that shopping remains fair and safe during the festive season, reinforcing the trust that consumers place in their retail environment.
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