Five shop owners in Kadavu have been found to be selling food products at prices not recommended by the Fiji Competition and Consumer Commission (FCCC).

This issue was brought up during the Kadavu Provincial Council meeting at Tavuki Village on Monday.

Three of these shops are from Vunisea, one from Ravitaki district and one from Nabukelevu district.

The FCCC’s representative at the meeting, Isimeli Vulagi, said the shops did not adhere to standard prices set by the FCCC.

“They were supposed to be following the marked prices,” he said.

The case for one shop has been referred to a court in Suva and has led to the closure of the business.

“The court will decide the eventual penalty,” he said.

He added that these shops were taken to task after a series of warnings were issued for selling stuff beyond the price limit over the past two years.

Mr Vulagi said that business operators would lower the prices of goods when FCCC officials visited them, but would instantly raise the prices once they had left.

“It is important that business operators follow and operate within the law,” he said.

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