The Interim Finance Minister said it’s about time that water bottling companies pay duty for using Fiji's mineral water resource.
Mahendra Chaudhry said the companies have been exempted from paying duty over the past years and they should take some personal responsibility to start paying the 20 cents per litre export duty and 20 cents per litre excise duty on bottled water sold locally.
He said cabinet decision to impose the duty stands from the 1st of this month and the companies should get ready to pay.
Chaudhry said the companies should now give back something to Fiji as they are gaining a lot through the country's mineral water resources.
The spokesperson for the ten water bottling companies, Island Chill Director, Jay Dayal confirms that they have not been paying any duty on the water extracted in the past. He said they only pay duty on other raw materials.
It’s About Time - Chaudhry
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