The Consumer Council of Fiji believes that people in the Northern division, rural areas and the outer islands, where majority of people live below the poverty line, are not benefitting from government's decision to place certain basic food items under the zero duty band.
Government's Budget for 2008 to 2010 allowed for the exemption of fiscal together with import duties on certain food items including canned fish, edible oil, onion, garlic and rice by imposing zero duty and this was specifically targeted for those living under the poverty line in these areas.
Consumer Council of Fiji CEO Premila Kumar revealed that according to their surveys, retailers outside the main centers in Viti Levu are not dropping the prices although the duty component has been removed for the specified item.
Kumar said better monitoring is needed and called on the authorities to ensure retailers and wholesalers print the recommended retail price on food items as a means to ensure the price of items under the zero duty bands does not increase.
The Commerce Commission has made recommendations to the Attorney General on how the increase in price of food items under zero rating can be maintained and why the prices have increased over the last two years.
The Commission is awaiting further directives from the Minister before taking any further steps.
Attorney General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum is yet to comment on the matter.
Story by: Roneel Lal.
North/Outer Island people not benefitting from zero duty band
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