Commerce Ministry asks major retailers to quickly distribute consumer goods in flooded areas

NONTHABURI, July 31 (TNA) – The Commerce Ministry has asked large-scaled retailers to quickly reopen their stores and distribute consumer goods in flooded areas. Commerce Minister Apiradi Tantraporn said that regarding flooding in 11 northern and northeastern provinces, her ministry asked the operators of Makro, Tesco Lotus, Big C Supercenter and 7-Eleven stores to quickly distribute consumer products in flooded areas to help flood victims. She also said that the Commerce Ministry would make products with discounts available in flooded areas after flood situations were relieved. Products would include rice, sugar, eggs, ready-to-eat foods and clothing. The campaign was aimed at reducing the cost of living of flood victims, she said. The commerce minister also instructed officials to closely monitor to prevent operators from unfairly raising the prices of consumer products in flood areas. Violators would be liable to a jail term of up to 7 years and/or a fine of up to 140,000 baht under a law on the prices of products and services. Consumers could file complaints on unfairly expensive products with provincial commerce offices and at the hotline number of the Internal Trade Department at 1569, Ms Apiradi said. (TNA)