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Price control plan for Ramadan discussed

DUBAI — Federal and local government departments, cooperative societies and UAE based local and foreign retail companies met at the Ministry of Economy (MoE) to discuss domestic market conditions and coordinate plans for the Holy Month of Ramadan.

The meeting discussed measures to ensure the availability of goods and price control to prevent exploitation of the consumers.

The Under-secretary in the MoE, Mohammed Ahmed bin Abdulaziz Alshihhi, stated that the ministry has prepared a comprehensive plan to monitor and control markets in preparation for the holy month in order to protect the domestic market and stabilise prices.

He highlighted the significant efforts being made by the ministry to ensure the availability and affordability of basic food commodities, as well as their conformity with quality and safety standards.

Alshihhi urged traders and businessmen not to increase the prices during Ramadan and warned that MoE will carry out regular inspections.

The Director of Consumer Protection Department in the ministry, Dr. Hashem Al Nuaimi, emphasised the ministry's role in convincing cooperative societies and private retailers to reduce the prices of products, especially foodstuff, in the domestic market.

He highlighted the department's joint initiative with the private sector to sell at cost price the specially selected package of products, including rice, sugar, vegetable oil, tea, lentils, flour, juices and milk. He also pointed out that the ministry has begun placing fixed-price stickers on all essential commodities as part of price stabilisation agreement between cooperative societies and major retailers Carrefour and LuLu hypermarket in order to maintain 2007 rates.

Dr. Al Nuaimi confirmed the eagerness of the MoE to implement the agreements signed with the cooperative societies and the two retail companies, which constitute 70 per cent of the retail market.

The Ministry of Economy urged consumers to contact the Consumer Protection Department on the dedicated toll free hotline 600-522225 in case of complaints regarding the fixed-price goods. –

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