The Ministry of Trade and Industry in collaboration with the Consumer Council of Fiji and the Fiji Commerce Commission is reviewing the consumer protection laws and redress mechanisms of Fiji to make it more current and effective.
Attorney General and Minister for Industry and Trade Mr. Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum has emphasised that the objective of this review is to discuss strengths, weaknesses and gaps in the governing laws, systems and processes that are in place and build consensus among key stakeholders on new consumer policy framework, and institutional and redress mechanisms.
“For long, consumer protection has been given very little prominence in Fiji, however, the Bainimarama Government is taking a lead role in reviewing these laws to ensure regulatory framework remain relevant to promote consumer confidence, choice and competition,” he said.
Mr. Sayed-Khaiyum also stressed one of the key problems with consumer protection in Fiji being a number of laws with duplicating provisions in different consumer protection laws managed by different consumer protection agencies.
“Accordingly, effective legal enforcement is a challenge. The global trend is to have a single comprehensive consumer protection framework which addresses problems of consumers more rapidly and cost effectively.”
The Minister added that consumers also need reassurance that their rights will be fully protected if they are to have confidence in the marketplace.
“This confidence can only be realised if mechanisms are put in place to give consumers, business houses and investors transparent and fair processes through which they can participate,” he said.
The Review, scheduled from 18 to 29 October, 2010, will be done by experts through consultations and workshops with various stakeholders around the country.
At the end of the two-week, experts will make recommendation to the government on the changes that are required which is best suited to Fiji’s need.
Currently, there are several consumer protection laws in Fiji including the Second-Hand Dealers Act 1978, Sale of Goods Act 1985, Consumer Credit Act 1999, Money Lending Act, Real Estate Act, Fair Rents Act, Distress of Rent Act, Consumer Council of Fiji Act, Small Claims Tribunal Act and Commerce Decree 2010.