Festive Season Supply at Risk as Bureaucracy Threatens Stock and Prices

The festive season shopping period is under threat in Mauritius, with retailers warning that “dysfunction” at the Mauritius Standards Bureau (MSB) could lead to widespread stock shortages and price hikes for consumers.

The General Retailers Association (GRA) has issued a severe warning, stating that delays and “inconsistencies” in the MSB’s inspection and certification processes are directly affecting the supply chain.

Dominique Filleul, President of the GRA, said that while the immediate impact is on importers—who face “supplementary costs” such as storage, transport, and logistical penalties—it is ultimately the Mauritian consumer who “suffers the consequences.”

He explicitly warned of stock shortages and a rise in prices.

The situation is considered “critical” by GRA members due to the approaching high-demand festive period.

They cautioned that “if nothing is done, consumers risk not having access to certain essential or seasonal goods,” adding that this could also undermine the confidence of both traders and the public.

The distribution sector, already burdened by high logistics costs and international market uncertainty, is particularly concerned that a prolonged MSB malfunction could “weigh heavily on the local economy.”

Call for ‘Random Sampling’ and Reform

In response, the GRA has proposed an immediate measure to streamline procedures: the implementation of “random sampling.”

Mr Filleul stated that this internationally recognised method would involve inspecting a representative sample of products rather than systematically checking every single batch.

He argued that random sampling would maintain the necessary quality and conformity standards while “considerably fluidifying the procedures.”

This, in turn, would allow goods to be placed on the market faster, reducing costs and guaranteeing better consumer access.

Beyond this immediate fix, the GRA is pressing for a comprehensive reform of MSB procedures.

The association is calling for the standardisation of processing times and required documents, clear and systematic communication on procedures, the establishment of monitoring and feedback mechanisms, and continuous staff training to eliminate “inconsistencies and divergences of interpretation.”

Mr Filleul stressed that these changes are vital for establishing transparency and predictability, allowing importers to plan their activities with “clear and stable rules” rather than the current pervasive uncertainties that disrupt the entire distribution chain.

Bureau Silent, Minister Contacted

Attempts by the press to obtain comment from the MSB leadership since Monday, 29 September, were unsuccessful.

On Wednesday, 1 October, the institution reportedly stated that all communication must be directed through the Ministry of Industry and SMEs.

A Ministry official, when contacted, assured that the GRA’s grievances would be transmitted to the overseeing Minister.

The GRA, however, is maintaining pressure, with Mr Filleul asserting: “We cannot remain inactive in the face of a situation that directly impacts commerce and, more broadly, the national economy.”

Source: Defi Media