BAF to take action after finding out about additional fees being imposed

The government will be taking immediate steps to halt the unscrupulous behaviour of certain agents of the Biosecurity Authority of Fiji or people posing as Biosecurity Authority of Fiji agents.

A joint statement from the Biosecurity Authority of Fiji and the Fiji Commerce Commission stated that certain authorized agents are marking up services provided and imposing further fees for payments already made.

Others posing as Biosecurity Authority of Fiji agents are conning exporters and importers by illegally imposing biosecurity and quarantine fees.

There are also instances in which authorized agents are imposing fees and charges but are pocketing them instead of remitting them to the Biosecurity Authority of Fiji.

The imposition of these unfair charges and fees increases the costs of Fiji’s exports and imports.

According to the authorities, such behaviour is described as criminal and those responsible will face the full force of the law to prevent further erosion of Fiji’s competitive advantage in the international marketplace.