FCCC says new Bill will target anti-competitive pricing practices

The proposed Competition and Consumer Commission Bill 2026 will strengthen the Fiji Competition and Consumer Commission's (FCCC) powers to investigate unexplained price differences and suspected anti-competitive behaviour.

The assurance came after concerns over the high cost of clothing, footwear and school supplies in smaller towns dominated today's public consultation on the proposed Bill at Sai Hall in Sigatoka.

Shop 2 Save Supermarket Sigatoka manager Abdul Aziz urged the FCCC to include provisions that better protect consumers from excessive mark-ups, saying families were paying significantly more for identical products depending on where they shopped.

"There should be a possible solution so that this bill can control food items, clothing, shoes, homeware and things like that," Mr Aziz said.

"For example, if I buy a shoe in Sigatoka, it costs $200. The same shoes, if I buy them in Suva or Lautoka, will cost us $50."

Mr Aziz said the rising cost of living extended beyond food to clothing, homeware and school supplies, placing additional financial pressure on families despite the Government's back-to-school assistance.

"When I buy school items from Sigatoka Town, it will be above the price. But the same school set, if I go and buy from Nadi, will cost less."

"The Government is supplying and giving us $200 for school shopping, which is understandable, but due to these prices, we have to put our own money into buying the uniforms and everything."

Responding to the concerns, FCCC manager legal Krishan Keshwan said blanket price controls were not the solution because they could undermine competition.

"When we have to look into why there is a disparity in the price of the same goods from a larger city compared to a smaller town in Sigatoka, then there is more to it that needs to be looked into; we have to see how many traders are within this township that are providing the same or similar goods," Mr Keshwan said.

He said where only one trader supplied a product and there was little prospect of competition improving, the commission could consider price regulation.

However, where several businesses sold similar products, market competition should be allowed to operate freely to help reduce prices.

Mr Keshwan said if prices remained high despite competition, it could indicate anti-competitive conduct such as price-fixing or market allocation.

He said the proposed Bill would strengthen the FCCC's powers to investigate whether price disparities were driven by transport costs, business expenses or unlawful anti-competitive practices, allowing enforcement action where evidence of breaches existed.