Thailand tightens control of face mask price. (Photo: chiangraitimes)Bangkok (VNA) – Face masks and alcohol-based hand sanitiser have beenincluded on the state price control list which will be proposed to the Thaicabinet on February 4, as part of efforts to contain the new coronavirusoutbreak, local media reported.
Thailand’s centralcommittee on prices of goods and services approved inclusion of face masks andalcohol-based hand sanitiser on the list during its meeting, chaired by DeputyPrime Minister and Commerce Minister Jurin Laksanawisit, on February 3.
Once on theprice control list, manufacturers, distributors, exporters and importers haveto inform the Internal Trade Department the production cost, sales prices,production volume, export and import volume and stocks as wells as pricelabels.
Those whoexport more than 500 pieces need to gain prior approval from the department.
Similarmeasures are applied to hand sanitiser, except for the limit on export volumeas there are still adequate quantities for domestic demand.
The inclusionof the two products into the price control list is essential, because thedemand for the face masks has surged to 40-50 million pieces per month afterthe new virus outbreak from 30 million pieces a month ago.
The InternalTrade Department unveiled that the government may limit face mask purchases to10 pieces per person per purchase, considered sufficient for 15 days.
UnderThailand’s Price of Goods and Services Act of 1999, once put on the pricecontrol list, those who are found to hoard or charge unfair prices will besubject to no more than seven years in jail or fined up to 140,000 THB, orboth.
Those whorefuse to comply will face five years of imprisonment, a fine of no more than100,000 THB, or both.
Thailand hasso far confirmed 19 cases infected by the deadly virus originated from China’sWuhan city. A Thai taxi driver, who does not have a record of travelling toChina, was lately tested positive with novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV). It was the first human-to-human transmission ofthe coronavirus in Thailand./.
VNA
