ICCC does not regulate prices on fresh produce: Ain

By CLARISSA MOI
THE Independent Consumer and Competition Commission (ICCC) says it does not regulate prices of fresh produce sold in the shops.
Commissioner and chief executive officer Paulus Ain told The National that ICCC was legally required to regulate prices of goods that were declared under the Price Regulations Act, and it did not include fruits and vegetables.
Ain was responding to complaints raised by consumers that some shops were charging too much for some fruits and vegetables.
“The ICCC would like to remind consumers that they have the power of choice to not purchase goods or services from a shop if they did not like the price,” he said.
“Consumers have the choice of buying locally grown food sold at markets, which would be the best option.
“Shop owners should only set prices that are reflective of the cost they incur and quality of their produce, and not set absurd prices on their customers.”
Ain said that ICCC was expected to complete a process it was currently going through to amend the Prices Regulation Act to have some of those goods and service declared for price control.
“The delay has been mainly to do compliance with legislative amendment process, we hope to have this completed to give ICCC more price control powers.”
Ain had previously told The National that the goods currently declared for price regulations included rice, flour and sugar.