Fiji: Regulated prices of imported onions

The prices of imported onions are regulated by the Fiji Commerce Commission. Consumers are urged to take note that there is no one maximum retail prices for onions. Instead, the prices determined by the Commission apply to specific retailers and prices will differ between retailers. So the price of 1kg of onions at Rajendra Prasads Supermarkets is different from the prices at New World Supermarkets.

Why the price differences?

There may be several reasons for this. Retailers and importers may be importing onions from difference overseas suppliers or even different countries, hence prices would be different. Retailers have to apply to the Commerce Commission individually if they want to increase their prices. The Commission undertakes an analysis of the retailers' and, or importers' costing (i.e. cost of transport/shipping, storage, import price, etc) before coming up with a price that it deems to be fair.

Consumers are advised to check prices thoroughly for every retail outlet available to them before making their purchase. The Commerce Commission's regulated maximum retail price of onions should be displayed by the retailer as required by regulations. Prices in urban Viti Levu range from $1.74/kg to $2.11/kg. In the rural areas prices range from as low as $1.72 to as high as $2.18 per kg. Prices between urban and rural areas should differ by more than 6cents.

Beware of rotten onions

In October 2011, the Council's market surveillance discovered rotten onions being sold by one supermarket chain in Suva. We promptly informed the Ministry of Health's Food Union and a total of 153 kilograms of onions were removed and disposed. Consumers are urged to be on the lookout for unscrupulous retailers who sell rotten onions. One common tactic is to pile the good ones over the rotten ones where consumers can easily pick a handful without properly checking.

Source: fijitimes.com