A national consultation on price monitoring and consumer affairs was held this week, aiming to explore the development of new legislation to better protect local industries and consumers in Vanuatu.

Chief Executive Officer of the Bureau of Price Monitoring and Consumer Affairs, Ms. Lissie Taura, said the consultation aligns with efforts already underway in many Pacific countries to safeguard economic growth and address market imbalances.

“We see local industries growing, but at the same time, we’re still heavily dependent on imports,” she said. “It’s important that we begin to regulate market practices to protect our own producers and ensure fair competition.”

Ms. Taura emphasized the consultation provides a space for regulators to feed their insights into the policymaking process.

“We want legislation similar to those in other countries, but crafted to suit Vanuatu’s unique context. Since joining the WTO in 2012, we have obligations — but more importantly, we must ensure our laws support local needs, especially given how much of our economy depends on tourism and productive sectors,” she said.

Stakeholders from across sectors — including the Department of External Trade, NGOs, private businesses, and individual citizens — participated in the dialogue, which aimed to gather broad feedback on consumer protection measures and price regulation.

Organizers are encouraging more participation from all sectors in future consultations, to ensure any new legislation is inclusive and effective.