Commerce tightens price controls across flood-hit areas
Ministry of Commerce is mobilising food, water and essential goods for flood-hit areas while warning traders against price rises, hoarding or withholding sales.
- The Commerce Ministry has ordered officials in the flood-hit provinces of Nan and Phayao to monitor essential goods to prevent shortages and unjustified price increases.
- Businesses in affected areas are strictly prohibited from profiteering by hoarding supplies, imposing unjustified price hikes, or refusing to sell goods.
- The ministry has also placed 23 other provinces at risk of flooding on heightened alert to monitor local prices and supplies.
- A public hotline (1569) has been established for consumers to report violations such as price gouging or product shortages.
The Commerce Ministry has stepped up relief efforts for flood-affected communities in Nan and Phayao, mobilising essential supplies while ordering officials to prevent shortages and unjustified price increases.
Provincial commerce offices have been instructed to monitor stocks and prices of drinking water, dried food and other essential consumer goods. Businesses have been warned against profiteering, hoarding products or refusing to sell them.
According to the ministry’s statement, flooding, forest run-off and landslides have affected more than 4,500 households across several districts in Nan.
The affected areas include Pua, Tha Wang Pha, Wiang Sa, Phu Phiang, Santi Suk and Mueang Nan districts. In neighbouring Phayao, river overflows and run-off in Pong district have damaged homes and disrupted several transport routes.
Essential supplies mobilised for affected communities
Chakra Yodmani, deputy permanent secretary for commerce, said Deputy Prime Minister and Commerce Minister Suphajee Suthumpun had instructed the Department of Internal Trade and provincial commerce offices to provide urgent assistance.
Officials were told to coordinate with local authorities and other organisations to assess demand and distribute drinking water, food and essential household products.
Provincial commerce offices must also support local administrative authorities carrying out relief operations and regularly report on the availability of important goods.
The ministry stressed that essential products must remain readily available and reasonably priced throughout the emergency.
Businesses are strictly prohibited from exploiting the disaster by imposing unjustified price increases, withholding products, hoarding supplies or refusing to sell goods to consumers.
Producers asked to support relief operations
Wittayakorn Maneenetr, director-general of the Department of Internal Trade, said the department had contacted manufacturers, businesses and private organisations to request support for the relief effort.
Requested items include food, drinking water and essential household supplies. The department is coordinating with relevant agencies to ensure that donated goods are distributed rapidly and reach affected communities.
Commerce offices across the North are assessing the needs of individual communities and connecting manufacturers and suppliers with local authorities.
Goods will be dispatched when requests are received to ensure assistance reflects conditions and demand in each affected area.
Manufacturers and businesses wishing to donate consumer goods or other essential supplies can contact the department’s Price and Quantity System Division on 02-507-5689.
Twenty-three provinces under close watch
The ministry has also placed provincial commerce offices in 23 areas at risk of flash floods, run-off and short-term waterlogging on heightened alert.
The provinces are:
Sukhothai, Mae Hong Son, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Lamphun, Lampang, Phrae, Nan, Tak, Phetchabun, Loei, Bueng Kan, Nong Bua Lam Phu, Udon Thani, Sakon Nakhon, Nakhon Phanom, Maha Sarakham, Mukdahan, Amnat Charoen, Kanchanaburi, Nakhon Nayok, Chanthaburi, Trat
Offices in these provinces must continuously monitor local conditions and be prepared to assist communities immediately if flooding affects supplies or commercial activity.
Consumers experiencing unreasonable prices, shortages, withheld goods or refusals to sell can file complaints through the Department of Internal Trade hotline on 1569 or contact their provincial commerce office.
