Consumer protection

Fair Trading

We enforce Samoa's fair-trading laws — protecting consumers from misleading conduct, false representations, and unfair business practices, and ensuring businesses compete on a level playing field.

What's covered: truthful advertising, accurate pricing, correct product labelling, honest claims about goods and services, refund and return obligations, and protection from unsafe or prohibited goods.

Statutory basis: Our work is governed by the Competition and Consumer Act 2016, which consolidated the earlier Fair Trading Act 1998 and Consumer Protection Act 2013 into a single framework. We investigate complaints, issue compliance notices, and prosecute serious breaches; the Samoa Competition and Consumer Commission (SCCC) administers price-control and anti-competitive-practice matters under the same Act.

How to report unfair trading: Lodge a complaint via the Consumer Complaint Form. See File a consumer complaint below for guidance on what to include.

Forms & downloads

• Consumer Enquiry Form (PDF)
• Refund Rights Reference (PDF)
• Rounding to the Sene (PDF)

Food Safety (Samoa Codex)

Samoa's Codex Committee, administered through MCIL, sets food safety standards based on the international Codex Alimentarius — the World Health Organization and Food and Agriculture Organization's joint food safety framework. This protects consumers from unsafe food and supports local food producers to meet export requirements.

Samoa Codex operates a dedicated site with detailed standards, committee activities, and guidance for food businesses.

Access Standards

Our Access Standards programme develops and maintains Samoan National Standards (SNS) for goods and services — ensuring that products sold in Samoa meet minimum quality, safety, and performance requirements.

Policy framework: Our work is aligned with the Samoa National Quality Policy 2025–2030, which sets the national approach to standards, conformity assessment, and quality infrastructure.

Examples of published Samoan National Standards:

• SNS 4766:2019 — Polyethylene storage tanks
• SNS 001:2021 — Used motor vehicles consumer information
• SNS 002:2021 — Non-food item labelling

Browse all standards documents in our Document Library.

Forms & downloads

• Samoan National Standard 4766:2019 — Polyethylene Storage Tanks (PDF)
• Samoan National Standard 001:2021 — Consumer Information for Used Motor Vehicles (PDF)
• Samoan National Standard 002:2021 — Consumer Information Labelling for Non-Food Items (PDF)

Metrology (Weights and Measures)

Our Metrology section verifies and certifies measuring instruments used in trade — from supermarket scales to fuel pumps — ensuring consumers get what they pay for.

Statutory basis: The Metrology Act 2015 establishes the framework for legal metrology in Samoa, including the verification, calibration, and certification regime for trade-use measuring equipment.

What's covered: weighing and measuring equipment used in commercial transactions — scales, fuel pumps, length and volume meters, and similar instruments. Trade in Samoa must use metric units (kilograms, metres, litres, seconds).

What's required:

• Traders using measuring instruments for commercial transactions must have those instruments tested and stamped by our Metrology inspectors before use.
• Instruments are then re-verified periodically to maintain certification.
• Trade in short weight, length, area, distance, or volume is an offence.

How to book an inspection: Contact MCIL via the sidebar to schedule verification of new instruments or periodic re-verification.

Forms & downloads

• Application for Licence to Manufacture (DOCX)
• Metrology Infographic (PDF)
• Metrology Flyer (PDF)

Samoa Competition and Consumer Commission (SCCC)

The Samoa Competition and Consumer Commission (SCCC) is an independent statutory body established under the Competition and Consumer Act 2016. SCCC operates separately from MCIL and reports to the responsible Minister.

What SCCC does: SCCC promotes competitive markets, sets conduct standards for traders, investigates anti-competitive practices, and administers price control orders on essential goods to protect consumers from excessive pricing.

Current Price Control Order: SCCC's Price Control Order 2026 (i Gagana Samoa) covers a range of essential items including rice, tinned fish, flour, sugar, milk powder, cement, and petroleum products. Orders are updated regularly in response to economic conditions.

How to report a price or competition issue: SCCC accepts complaints about price-gouging, anti-competitive conduct, or breaches of price control orders. For consumer-protection issues that span fair trading and competition, use the MCIL Consumer Complaint Form — we triage and route to SCCC where appropriate.

Forms & downloads

• Price Control Order 2026 · i Gagana Samoa (PDF)
• E-Commerce Consumer Guide (PDF)
• Competition Act Quick Reference (PDF)
• Pricing Costing Form (PDF)
• Competition Counter Display Reference (PDF)

File a consumer complaint

If you believe a business has treated you unfairly, you can lodge a complaint with MCIL. We will investigate, mediate, and where necessary take enforcement action.

For SCCC-specific matters (price control breaches, anti-competitive practices), see Samoa Competition and Consumer Commission above.

Forms & downloads

Submit your complaint online via the Consumer Complaint Form webform, or download a printable copy:

• Consumer Complaint Form · i Gagana Samoa (PDF)