The country’s consumer watchdog- the Independent Consumer and Competitions Commission (ICCC)- is warning retailers and wholesalers nationwide to comply with the government imposed Zero- rated Goods and Services Tax (GST) relief policy. The ICCC Commissioner and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Mr. Paulus Ain explained that this initiative is expected to deliver nearly K800 million in GST savings for all the households nationwide and the ICCC will work with relevant authorities to enforce this. “The ICCC will assist the IRC (Internal Revenue Commission) and PNG Customs in ensuring that the intended relief reaches consumers, and that prices are fairly adjusted in line with tax changes,” said Mr. Ain. “The compliance and enforcement will be led by the IRC as the lead agency, and will be conducted in close partnership with the ICCC and Customs.” The Commission is committed to working alongside the IRC and PNG Customs to monitor market behavior and ensure businesses are passing on the GST savings to consumers, as required by law. “As a regulator, the ICCC endeavors to complement the efforts of our partner agencies while ensuring that customer protection remains at the forefront,” Mr. Ain said. Meanwhile, the tax relief policy marks an important intervention by the government to relieve cost of living pressures, and the ICCC remains committed in ensuring that the policy is complied with by the retailers and wholesalers.