Wholesales and shops will soon be selling downsized cartons of tinned fish and corned beef as the Government continues to push for ways to curb the cost of living. 

The quantity of tinned fish cans in a box will soon be reduced again, from 12 to eight cans per box.

For 3lb corned beef boxes, it will be lessened from 4 to 2 cans in a box. 

A 12 tinned fish carton currently costs about $27.00 tala at the wholesale and a box of four 3lb corned beef is $92.00 tala. 

Prime Minister, Tuilaepa Dr. Sa'ilele Malielegaoi, said the change for boxes of tinned fish is already enforced.

Tuilaepa told 2AP radio during his weekly programme that by end of February the shops should have had their old stocks of 12 boxes of tinned fish and corned beef boxes should be finished. 

He added that by March stores should be selling the new reduced boxes. 

Over the years the Government has had to initiate the change in can boxes used for traditional exchange over public concerns on cost of living and contributions to fa’alavelave. 

The carton of tinned fish started with 48 cans in a box that cost $100 tala at the time. 

During funerals and other fa’alavelave families often have to fork out an average 200 boxes for a funeral costing them $20,000 tala. 

For larger funerals for a high chief of a family, others usually contribute about 500 to 1000 cartons of tinned fish. 

The Government then moved to reduce the boxes to 24 tinned fish per carton and then again to 12 tinned fish.