Co-operatives Act 1996 (No. 16 of 1996).

The Act consists of 122 sections divided into 15 Parts: Preliminary (I); Objectives of a cooperative and cooperative principles (II); Appointment of registrar, formation and registration of cooperatives (III); Rights and duties of cooperatives (IV); Rights and duties of members (V); Secondary cooperatives, apex organizations and the national cooperative federation (VI); Co-operative Advisory Board (VII) Organization and management of co-operatives (VIII); Audit and inquiry (IX); Property and funds of a cooperative (X); Amalgamation, transfer, division and conversion of co-operatives (XI); Dissolution and liquidation of cooperatives (XII); Settlement of disputes (XIII); Miscellaneous provisions (XIV).
Section 4 sets out the objectives of a cooperative, whereas section 5 defines cooperative principles. The Public Service Commission shall appoint a Registrar of Cooperatives under section 6. The Registrar shall register cooperatives and in general carry out duties and exercise any powers in accordance with this Act and the Regulations which are conducive to the development of cooperatives in Fiji. Section 7 specifies cooperatives which may be registered. A cooperative which has as one of its objects the disposal of any article produced or obtained by the work of its members, whether the produce of agriculture, animal husbandry, fisheries, forestry, handicrafts, the manufacture of goods or otherwise, may provide for this in its by-laws in accordance with section 25. Co-operatives may form secondary cooperatives and apex organizations which may be registered to facilitate the operations of their members or to provide such other services as may be necessary for their members as laid down in their by-laws (sect. 44). A National Co-operative Federation is established under section 47 and a Co-operative Advisory Board under section 48.