Fiji - Standards for Trade Fiji - Trade Standards
Overview
In 1992, the Fiji Trade Standards and Quality Control Office (FTSQCO) was established by the Trade Standards and Quality Control Decree 1992 to ensure that Fiji’s products and services standards are aligned to international standards. The FTSQCO is commonly known as the Department of National Trade Measurement and Standards.
The Trade Standards Advisory Council (TSAC) was formed in conjunction with FTSQCO. The role of the TSAC is to consider and recommend to the Minister for Industry and Trade the declaration of Fiji standards specifications, including for processes, practices, quality, composition, labeling, and codes of practices.
Standards
There are 12 mandatory standards (technical regulations) and 75 voluntary standards in place, covering areas such as building and building material, telecommunication cabling, occupational health and safety, and electrical installation. However, the majority of the standards were adopted from Standards Australia as best practice standards.
Testing, inspection and certification
At present there are no conformity assessment bodies.
The National Trade Measurement Laboratory is the only national metrology laboratory. However, manufacturers needing products tested send them to accredited laboratories in Australia or New Zealand, or to the University of the South Pacific’s Institute of Applied Science (USP/IAS) laboratory, which is ISO 17025 certified.
Products carrying the “Fijian Made” brand are required to obtain a license from the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Tourism, and to comply with local product content as per the Industry Emblem Decree and Regulations 2011. The brand categories, aimed at promoting and raising the profile of Fijian made products locally and internationally, include Fijian Made, Fijian Product, Fijian Packed, Fijian Crafted, Fijian Grown, Fijian Assembled, Fijian Designed, and Fijian Sewn. By 2016, a total of 321 companies, 176 artisans and over 1500 products were certified to carry the Fijian Made logo.
Water bottled in Fiji must be accredited. The Bottled Water Standard requires that facilities bottling water in Fiji provide test results from approved laboratories for accreditation.
Publication of technical regulations
All technical regulations are published in the Fiji Islands Gazette. The Ministry of Industry, Trade and Tourism has a Memorandum of
Understanding with Standards Australia International.
Contact Information
Department of National Trade Measurement and Standards
Ministry of Industry, Trade and Tourism
P.O. Box 2118
Government Buildings, Suva
Phone: (679) 3305-411
Fax: (679) 3310-810
Members of the World Trade Organization (WTO) are required under the Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT Agreement) to notify to the WTO proposed technical regulations and conformity assessment procedures that could affect trade. Notify U.S.
(www.nist.gov/notifyus) is a free, web-based e-mail registration service that captures and makes available for review and comment key information on draft regulations and conformity assessment procedures. Users receive customized e-mail alerts when new notifications are added by selected country (ies) and industry sector(s) of interest, and can also request full texts of regulations. This service and its associated web site are managed and operated by the USA WTO TBT Inquiry Point housed within the National Institute of Standards and Technology, part of the U.S. Department of Commerce.