ROLES AND FUNCTIONS OF THE CONSUMER COUNCIL OF FIJI Ms. Bindula Prasad MANAGER, EU Project AND HUMAN RESOURCES Consumer Council of Fiji

CONSUMER COUNCIL OF FIJI ACT Consumer Council of Fiji Act was enacted in 1976. The Council was established in 1978. It creates CONSUMER COUNCIL OF FIJI as a statutory body to serve the interests of the consumers – basically a watchdog and pressure body.

OUR VISION & MISSION Vision: To build an assertive consumer movement in Fiji Mission: Making consumer voice count

FUNCTIONS OF CONSUMER COUNCIL OF FIJI Under Section 6(1) of the Act functions of the Council states: “The functions of the Council shall be to do all such acts and things which it may consider necessary or expedient to ensure that the interests of consumers of goods and services are promoted and protected”. (Broad Powers)

ROLE OF CCAG By virtue of this function, the Council has created the Community Consumer Advisory Group (CCAG). Your role is to make it easier for consumers to access information, seek advice or share their grievances in your local communities, as and when they need it. You will be the “eyes” and “ears” of the Consumer Council of Fiji in remote rural areas and will actively participate in promoting consumer rights and protection through various means. You will be the primary contact for consumers who need immediate assistance or advice.

Functions OF CCAG Receive and register complaints; Assess complaints and offer appropriate advice to consumers or refer the cases to the Council; Provide general advice and feedback to the Council regarding consumer complaints or issues/problems faced by consumers in your community; Assist in the dissemination of information to consumers in your community to reduce consumer complaints; Inform the Council about unfair trade practices in your areas e.g. Certain food prices in your communities; Assist the Council in organizing community workshops, mobile units, school visits etc; and Assist Council to prepare submissions to better protect consumers.

why CCAG is significant Consumers are empowered by knowing about their rights/responsibilities and consumer protection; Consumer voices in outer and remote areas/islands will be adequately heard; Empowered consumers who can deal directly with traders, landlords and service providers on their grievances; Promote consumer solidarity in your communities.

why CCAG is significant Online Boutique – The Pink Window Creations Consumers started raising concerns on the Council’s facebook against an online boutique upon failure on the part of the boutique to deliver products in a timely manner; The Council advised them to lodge formal complaints resulting in an investigation of the matter; The consumers then lodged formal complaints at the Council seeking appropriate redress – items purchased/money paid; Some complainants were either provided a refund/exchange items/actual products purchased at a later date; The Council came across several complaints against the online shopping boutique, recording 214 complaints against them with a monetary value of $76,944;

why CCAG is significant Online Boutique – The Pink Window Creations The Council assisted Fiji Commerce Commission to take the matter to Court on behalf of those consumers who did not receive any redress; The matter is now before the court of law and/or Small Claims Tribunal where consumers are seeking refund/compensation against the boutique; Without consumer solidarity, the general public would have been oblivious of the fact that this particular online boutique owed large sums of money to certain members of the public; The Council is working with consumers and Fiji Commerce Commission in seeking justice for the aggrieved consumers.

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