The Department of Trade, Industry, and Fair Competition (DTIFC) is responsible for implementing and enforcing the TCI Consumer Protection Ordinance (“CPO”). The goal of the CPO is to establish provisions for the protection of consumer interests in relation to the supply of goods and services in the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI).
In February 2023, the DTIFC launched its Compliance and Regulatory Enforcement (C.A.R.E.) Drive, which is focused on the following two (2) work activities:
- Part IV and V Checks, which will focus on whether providers are compliant with their duties to consumers, as per Part IV & V of the CPO.
- Section 33 Check, which will focus on the monitoring of selected breadbasket items to dissuade price gouging, which is prohibited in Section 33 of the CPO.
In particular, Section 33 in the CPO focuses on Misleading, deceptive or unconscionable conduct, including price gouging. Price gouging refers to the practice whereby providers of goods and services take advantage of spikes in demand by charging exorbitant prices for necessities. In this regard, the DTIFC works to ensure that prices set by providers do not grossly exceed the price at which similar goods or services are readily available to like consumers.
The Report on Prices of Breadbasket Items focuses on the continuous monitoring of the prices of 23 breadbasket items in retail stores. These breadbasket items include rice; flour; grits; bread; spaghetti/instant noodles; macaroni and cheese; cornflakes/cereal; chicken; canned sausage, Vienna; fresh and canned meats; cheese; evaporated milk; eggs; cooking oil; fruits; sugar; instant baby food/juice; water; cleaning supplies; adult and baby diapers; protein nutritional shakes; and tea and coffee. During the price monitoring process, if representative brands are not in stock on the specified day of the visit, this will be indicated by a N/A sign in the designated rows of the product tables.
Click here to view the Report for Providenciales
Click here to view the Report for North Caicos