The Fijian Competition and Consumer Commission (FCCC) has recently noted increases in prices of bread products and pastries that are not under any of its price control regimes.

A major ingredient of bread is flour, and flour is derived from wheat.

Given the increase in price of wheat announced on March 9, these subsequent increases were expected.

Fiji is a ‘price-taker’ for wheat in the international market and is suffering from the impacts of the Russia-Ukraine war, particularly those that have exacerbated the global supply of wheat.

FCCC has price-control over three (3) bread products according to eight (8) schedules by locations, and further details of these are available at https://bit.ly/3JI4CoY.

Schedule 1, for instance, stipulates the prices of bread products in the cities of Suva and Lautoka, the towns of Ba, Lami, Nadi, Sigatoka, Tavua, Nausori and Nasinu and he areas on the island of Viti Levu within a radius of 5 kilometers from any of the post offices situated at Korovou, Navua or Rakiraki, as follows:

“Traders engaged in the manufacturing, wholesaling and retailing of bread and related products should ensure a sufficient supply of these products in the market and sell these products at prices authorised by FCCC,” said FCCC’s Acting CEO Mr. Vinitesh Kumar.

“Failure to adhere to any Price Control Order will result in serious penalties,” added Kumar.

FCCC has in place mechanisms to ensure that Fijians have access to the range of bread products that are under price control.

As part of its response strategy, the FCCC conducted market surveillances within its three major divisions prior to the announcement on March 9, in anticipation that businesses will resort to increasing prices of various bread and pastry products.

A total of 51 market surveillances were carried out in supermarkets, bakeries, and corner shops in the Western, Central and Northern Divisions last week.

“Our teams have been liaising with bakeries, small corner shops, and supermarkets in an effort to ensure that prices for price-controlled products are adhered to,” explained Mr. Kumar.

“These market surveillances also serve as an opportunity for us to update our records and keep track of the number of bakeries, corner shops and businesses that sell bread products under price control.”

Mr. Kumar reiterated that bakeries have increased prices of their products, but not for those items regulated by price-control.

The FCCC stresses that any raw materials – not just wheat – being imported into Fiji are exposed to factors that affect their pricing in the global market.

The ongoing impacts of COVID19, coupled with the Russia-Ukraine war, will most likely push prices of imported items up.

For more information/details on this, please contact us on our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/FijianCCC , or on our website https://fccc.gov.fj/ or on 8921991.

Feedback: inoke.rabonu@fijisun.com.fj