Some retailers increasing prices of old stock

Serious concerns are being raised as many people experienced immediate price increases on certain goods following the 2015 National Budget announcement on Friday.

Consumer Council of Fiji CEO Premila Kumar said the retailers must uphold business ethics and fair trade practice, and not hoodwink the consumers by increasing the prices of old stock where the old duty was paid.

According to a Fiji Revenue and Customs Authority public circular, the duty rates and other charges relating to the Customs Tariff Act shall apply to goods arriving for the first time in Fiji by ship or aircraft after midnight Thursday 20th November, 2014.

FRCA states that the new price only applies when the retailers pay new rates of duty on the new stock of the items arriving into the country after midnight last Thursday.       

The same applies to items which had a duty increase of 32%.

These items are perfumes, cosmetics, shaving gear or after shave preparations, cameras, camcorders, sunglasses, binoculars, video and electronic games, watches, iPods, MP3 and MP4 players, and jewelry.

We have sent questions to the Fiji Revenue and Customs Authority on how it will deal with this issue as some retailers do this every year.

Fijivillage is yet to get a response from FRCA.