Trader charges 16 cents as plastic bag levy

The Consumer Council of Fiji has referred a case of a trader who is charging 16 cents as the plastic bag levy.

Council CEO Premila Kumar says in order to ensure immediate action is taken they have notified the Fiji Revenue and Customs Service to look into the matter.

The council is calling on consumers to be vigilant and pay particular attention to their receipts on purchases made.

The call comes in light of a recent complaint where a consumer who had purchased a large number of firecrackers was charged 16 cents for a plastic bag.

The consumer came to know of this when he got his receipt and managed to browse it.

He immediately raised concern on why 16 cents was charged as the plastic bag levy is 10 cents.

The trader informed the consumer that since the plastic bag was large in size, the cost of 16 cents was applied.

The council says the plastic bag levy is only 10 cents irrespective of its size.

Kumar also says the levy is to be charged on plastic bags with handles only.