Jurin looking at possibility of making face masks, hand gels controlled goods
The government is considering making protective face masks and hand sanitizer gels controlled goods, which would subject them to price-control by the government, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Commerce Jurin Laksanawisit said on Sunday (February 2).
Later on Monday, the Central Committee for Prices of Goods and Services that he chairs approved the motion of making protective face masks as well as their raw material (polypropylene fiber) and hand sanitizer gels controlled goods, which will later be presented to the Cabinet meeting of Tuesday (February 4).
“Domestic demand for face masks is normally at 30 million units per month, but during the coronavirus outbreak it could go up to 40 million,” he said. “The domestic production capacity could go as high as 100 million per month provided factories are supplied with enough raw materials. Currently we have no problem of raw materials shortage although some of them must be imported.”
Earlier, Jurin had ordered Provincial Commerce offices nationwide to survey and monitor the markets to make sure there was no shortage or raising of prices for protective face masks and hand sanitizer gels.
Consumers can report any exploitation by manufacturers, wholesalers or retailers to the Department of Internal Trade’s hotline 1569.
