The Fijian Competition and Consumer Commission (FCCC) inspected a total of 4281 traders between January and December last year.

Out of which 28 traders were singled out for non-compliance of the 10 cents plastic bag levy legislated through the Environment and Climate Adaptation Levy (ECAL) Act effective from August 1, 2017.

FCCC chief executive officer Joel Abraham said this was rectified accordingly.

“This was at the start of the implementation period so given that when a new initiative starts there will be teething issues,” he said.

“Infringement notices were issued and the issue was rectified and the traders came forward and they were very compliant so for us it was a good start and since then we have been monitoring traders during our inspections and we are closely monitoring the situation.”

However he stated that they have noticed that some traders continue to charge the levy even though they are not part of the first phase of implementation.

“The only concern that we have is whether consumers are being misrepresented.”

He said the commission has seen a change in people’s behaviour as the initiative has made them more environment cautious which has led to a decrease in the use of plastic bags.

“I think the initiative is wonderful and it is helping the cause towards having a clean environment,” Mr Abraham said.

“We find people carrying their own shopping bags or if they go to a particular store especially when they go for clothes shopping and they buy something from elsewhere they use the same plastic bag.

“It is really good to see the number of plastic bags have reduced and we call on people to think twice when they use plastic bags and we appeal for the use of reusable bags.”

The Commission is encouraging people to come forward and report instances of traders without the point of sale system charging them the levy.

In 2016 the commission made 2938 inspections of traders, and received 290 complaints about fair trade and 225 regarding property rent.

Last year they recorded 834 complaints regarding fair trade and 420 complaints regarding rent.

Feedback:  fonua.talei@fijisun.com.fj