Last Updated on 8 years by Publishing Team

Health: Register or renewal required for wholesalers, retailers of tobacco products and suki vendors

The Ministry of Health & Medical Services is reminding all wholesalers and retailers of tobacco products and suki vendors that they must make an application to be registered or renew their existing registration as required on an annual basis.

The registration of new tobacco retailers/suki vendors or renewal of current tobacco retailer/suki vendor registration certificates is currently effective from the 1^st of December 2015 at the Tobacco Control Enforcement Unit [TCEU] office at the Ministry of Health and Medical Services and all Rural Local Authority/Health Offices.

All tobacco product retailers will be levied a registration fee on new or renewed applications as stipulated under Schedule 5 of the Tobacco Control Regulations 2012.

Tobacco and suki vendors must make all efforts to visit the nearest health office in the central, western and northern division. The Tobacco Control Team will be present to do a mass registration and licensing campaign and the certificates will be issued on site.

Failure to obtain a registration certificate to sell tobacco products or suki by the 31^st of January 2016 is an offence and may incur a penalty of up to $5,000.00. Therefore, any retailer that sells tobacco products without a valid certificate on the 1^st of February 2016 is committing an offence and will be subjected to court proceedings.

The Health Ministry once again reminds all tobacco products and suki vendors to register or renew and can contact the Tobacco Control Enforcement Unit (Central) Level 3, Namosi House, Amy Street, Toorak Suva on Ph: 3314988 for more information.