Intensified Festive Surveillance Flags Serious Consumer Issues

As consumers fuel marketplace activity in the ongoing festive season, there is a greater need for vigilance and responsible trader practice nationwide. As part of its annual festive-season monitoring, the Consumer Council of Fiji has stepped up market surveillance nationwide. Our officers are also participating in joint operations as a key member of the Price Monitoring and Enforcement Taskforce (PMET). The findings from these efforts to date are a cause for serious concern.

From 1 August 2025 to date, the Council has carried out 1,014 market surveillances, covering supermarkets, retail outlets, open markets, restaurants, eateries, bakeries, service stations, and various service providers across Suva, Lautoka and Labasa. These operations formed part of the Council’s proactive approach to ensure fair pricing, regulatory compliance, food safety, and transparent business practices ahead of the festive rush.

Numerous issues were uncovered during these surveillance activities. Serious pricing and regulatory breaches were identified, including price control violations, the absence of price tags, misleading advertisements, omission of VAT on receipts, and the use of exclusionary clauses in sales terms. Several traders were also found operating without mandatory licences such as Business Registration Certificates, Health Licences, Tobacco Licences and Liquor Licences.

Food safety and hygiene concerns were among the most critical findings. The Council officers discovered expired items, rotten or wilted produce, damaged packaging, dusty or dented cans, overcrowded freezers, ice-build-up, and pest presence including flies and cockroaches in both supermarkets and eateries. Some butcher areas and storage spaces required urgent cleaning, and certain pre-packed food items lacked proper labelling.

Additional issues were identified across various service sectors. Restaurants, cafés and eateries displayed poor PPE compliance, uncovered food, pest issues and improper waste management. Bakeries had uncovered bread, flies, and price control violations. Service stations were found with misleading advertisements, dusty shelves, and missing price tags. Some beauty and massage services failed to reflect VAT on receipts, particularly barbershops. While hotels and most financial service providers were generally compliant, isolated cases of misleading advertisements and hidden fees were still recorded.

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