Commerce ministry adds 20 items to price control list amid oil crisis
The Commerce Ministry is adding 20 more items to the list of controlled products to help cushion the impact of the current oil crisis on consumers, as the war in the Middle East drags on.
Commerce Permanent Secretary Vuttikrai Leewiraphan said the ministry has sought cooperation from manufacturers of many brand-name products necessary for daily use, such as toothpaste and detergent, to sell them to consumers at discounted prices.
The ministry also plans to hold trade exhibitions across the country from March to August under the “Thais Help Thais” programme, offering reasonably priced consumer goods.
Currently, the list of controlled products covers 59 items, whose prices are regulated and for which manufacturers must seek permission from the Commerce Ministry before raising them. Most of the goods are daily necessities.
The additional items include:
- Pork; chicken; eggs; rice; paddy; wheat; garlic; fresh coconut; oil palm seeds; latex
- Dried food and seasoning; canned fish; instant noodles; palm oil; sugar; salt; fresh milk and powdered milk
- Fertiliser; pesticides; animal feeds; farm machinery
- Fuel; LPG
- Cement; iron rods, sheets and structural iron; electrical cables; PVC pipes, floor and wall tiles; sanitary ware
- Tissue paper; printing and writing paper; detergent; soap; shampoo; sanitary towels; diapers
- Face masks; hand sanitisers; medicines and medical services; rubber gloves; antigen test kits