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Published on December 17, 2007

The plan will be proposed to the price-control committee of the ministry in a meeting today.

   Yangyong Phuangrach, director-general of the Internal Trade Department, said last week that the department was planning to extend controls from the current 34 products because many consumers were complaining about unfair price rises.

   It will also put drinking yoghurt and car batteries on the list.

  Although alcohol is not an essential, consumers have complained to the ministry that drink prices are changing rapidly, said Yangyong. He said the increases could have a knock-on effect, for instance on New Year's gift baskets, and fewer players in the industry might lead to a market-dominance problem.

   The controls will require producers of alcoholic beverages to inform the ministry of retail prices and discount plans as well as seek its approval for price increases.

   Products already on the list are sugar, vegetable oil, rice, powdered milk, fresh dairy produce, fertiliser, condensed milk, detergents, insecticides, dish-washing liquids, sanitary napkins, rubber tyres, cement, soap, shampoo, motorcycles, passenger cars, steel, liquefied petroleum gas, generic medicines and fuel. Copyright services are also covered.

Petchanet Pratruangkrai

The Nation