E-tax unacceptable: Consumer Council

The Consumer Council of Fiji has labeled the proposed environment tax by the Ministry of Environment as unacceptable.

This comes after two proposals were made to government for a proposed Environment Tax (E-Tax) to address waste management and environment issues in Fiji.

Council chief executive Premila Kumar said the proposed tax would be unfair to consumers who did not pollute the environment.

She said the government should introduce a polluter pay principle instead of increasing the overall Value Added Tax.

“The Polluter Pays Principle is an internationally recognized environmental policy principle which requires the costs of pollution to be borne by those who pollute,” said Kumar.

“For example individuals, factories, companies and industries that add to land and sea pollution under this policy will be required to pay the cost of pollution and waste generation.”

She said the principal was an internationally accepted part of environmental law and Fiji needed to adapt the principle.

The government could stand to gain around $952 million from the implementation of the tax.

Fiji's annual environment cost is around $22million annually or a little over $26 per capita based on 2007 census figures.

By Tevita Vuibau

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