The Ministry of Trade and Economic Development (MTED) recently concluded a public consultation in Vava’u led by Mrs. Sandradee Fifita, Head of Division (HOD) for the MTED Consumer Affairs Division, on Thursday, 19th September 2024, as part of its ongoing review of the Consumer Protection Act. This consultation follows the initial phase of the regulatory review which began in Tongatapu in July – August.

The implementation of the regulatory review of the Consumer Protection Act 2000 is the first phase of the National Consumer and Competition Policy (approved by Cabinet in August, 2023)

Consulting this review process is Mr. Andrew Simpson, a legal consultant from the Private Sector Development Initiative (PSDI), which is funded from the Asian Development Bank (ADB).

The two-day consultation in Vava’u saw active participation from various stakeholders, including government ministries, NGOs, local businesses, and local government representatives.

The revised bill is expected to be submitted to the Cabinet for consideration by the end of this year, marking a key milestone in strengthening consumer rights and protection in Tonga.

Kuo lava lelei e ngaahi fakataha talatalanoa ʻa e Potungāue Fefakatauʻakí mo e Langa Fakalakalaka Fakaʻekonōmiká pea mo e kāinga vahe fonua Vavaʻú ʻi hono tataki atu ʻe he Pule ʻo e vaʻa Tokangaekina ʻo e Konisiumá mo e Fakatau Leleí, Sandradee Fifita. Ko e konga ia ʻo e ngāue ʻoku lolotonga fakahoko ki hono vakaiʻi pea ke fakatonutonu ʻa e Lao ki hono maluʻi ʻo e konisiumá.

Ko e ngāue ni ko e sitepu kamata ia hono fakahoko ‘o e tuʻutuʻuni fakapuleʻanga ki hono maluʻi ʻo e konisiumá mo e feʻauhi’auhí ʻi he māketí ʻa ia naʻe fakapaasi ʻi he 2023. Ko e tefito’i taumu’a leva ke fakatonutonu ‘a e Lao Malu’i ‘o e Konisiumá taʻu 2000.

ʻOku faleʻi ki he ngāué ni ‘a Mr. Andrew Simpson, ko e faleʻi fakalao mei he polokalama langa ngaue ki hono fakalakalakaʻi ’o e ngaahi pisinisi taautahá (PSDI), ‘a ia ʻoku fakapa’anga ’e he Pangike Fakalakalaka ’o ’Esia (ADB).

Na’e kau mai ‘a e ngaahi kupu lalahi hange ko e ngaahi Potungāue ‘a e Pule’anga, ngaahi Kautaha ʻikai fakapuleʻanga, mo e ngaahi pisinisi taautaha pea ne lava ke tātānaki e ngaahi fakaanga, ngaahi fakamatala mo e fokotuʻu kehekehe ʻe tokoni lahi ki hono fakatonutonu ʻo e Lao ko ʻení.

Ko e ngāue ko ʻení ne kamata ia ʻi he mahina Siulaí – ‘Aokosi ʻi Tongatapú ni pea hoko eni ki he vahe fonua Vavaʻú ʻi he uike kuoʻosí pea ʻe hoko atu ʻi he vahe fonua Haʻapaí ʻi he uiké ni.