AMMAN — Jordan's
National Society for Consumer Protection (NSCP) has urged the
Ministry of Industry, Trade and Supply to set price caps on available and widely used
varieties rather than on goods that are rare or not even in the market.
اضافة اعلان
While on visits to markets, The NSCP found that, for
example, there was a price cap on some tomato and eggplant varieties that are
seldom used, while some more essential goods had no price cap.
As a result, The NSCP urged the ministry to set price
caps on tomatoes raised in green houses and on regular eggplants, two essential
commodities widely available in markets whose prices are high.
Head of the Consumer Protection Association
Mohammad Obeidat told
Jordan News that the ministry should pay more attention to
this issue as the association receives hundreds of calls each day from citizens
across the Kingdom complaining about sellers’ failure to sell at the set
prices, particularly in outlying areas of the capital.
Ministry spokesman
Yanal Barmawi stressed that the markets are supervised daily, with ministry official
checking compliance with the ministry’s law, the amount of quantities of goods,
and the application of specific price ceilings, and taking the necessary legal
measures against violators.
“The ministry does not price any commodity that is
not in the market,” he emphasized, stressing that the ministry has specialized
teams and tools for daily market monitoring and follow-up.
According to Obeidat, “citizens are unaware that the
ministry made a decision on certain types of unavailable goods while excluding
others”, adding that “despite their availability in markets in large
quantities, they are being sold at ridiculous prices by some traders who
practice the worst types of monopoly”.
“Until now, we are witnessing daily increases in the
price of some varieties,” Obeidat said, adding that “vegetable prices were
expected to stabilize in the first week of the
holy month, after citizens were
satisfied with their purchases and also as a result of the high temperatures
that would help increase the quantities supplied to the markets. Yet, so far,
we are witnessing daily increases in some varieties, especially of vine
tomatoes,” Obeidat said.
Obeidat urged citizens not to buy large quantities
of commodities, especially those with high prices, because “increased demand
raises prices, allowing monopolists to raise their prices”. He also suggested
that citizens should not only “not buy high-priced goods, but boycott them if
necessary, so that their prices fall and everyone can afford them”.
“I hope that the boycott, which will be a voluntary choice
of consumers, will result in a change for the better in the buying and
consuming culture,” he added.
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