Price of 250ml carton of milk to go up Bt0.25

Meanwhile, the ministry has announced it will closely monitor New Year gift baskets in an attempt to prevent vendors from charging unfair prices and selling low-quality products.

Boonyarit Kalayanamit, director-general of the Internal Trade Department, said the ministry needed to approve milk-price increases, including for pasteurised and UHT (ultra-high-temperature processed) milk, because of an increase in the cost of raw milk.

“If the government did not allow an increase in the retail price of fresh milk, it would cause difficulties for farmers,” he said. “However, the ministry will base its approval of the price increases on the fact that it’s an essential product and the impact on consumers will be minimal.” This month the Cabinet approved increasing the price of raw milk from Bt18 to Bt19 per kilogram. The aim was to boost farmers’ incomes after the price had been frozen for more than a year.

Boonyarit said his department would place more emphasis on examining gift baskets in a bid to ensure fairness to consumers. The inspections began early this month and will run until the end of the New Year festival.

Traders must abide by the law and display a list of the goods in the basket, including their prices, expiry dates, the cost of the basket and the service fee. 

The department will also increase inspections of product prices at bus terminals and train stations this holiday period, he said.