BANGKOK, 25 November 2014 – The Department of Internal Trade (DIT) under the Commerce Ministry has cautioned food manufacturers and vendors to not unfairly raise food prices.
According to DIT Director-General Boonyarit Kalayanamit, the DIT study into food production capital nationwide found that the costs are either on a decline or stable. For this reason, Boonyarit has warned food vendors to not take the opportunity to profiteer. Otherwise, they may be subjected to legal action ranging from a fine to a couple of months in jail.
Officials from the department would be monitoring food stalls throughout Bangkok and its suburbs everyday and would be assigned into ten different patrol teams. The department would pay special attention to food shops that had been complained by customers.
By carefully analyzing the production costs, the department concluded that prices of food ingredients are on the decline or remain stable. Even though the cost of LPG gas is on the rise, it has only raised the costs of cooking by only a few satang.
Meanwhile, the DIT has met with various food operators in line with Commerce Minister General Chatchai Sarikalya’s policy to control and stabilize food prices as a way to help ease the cost of living for Thais throughout the New Year.
