ICCC issues 41 notices to shopkeepers over alleged price-gouging

THE Independent Consumer and Competition Commission have issued 41 infringement notices to shopkeepers in Port Moresby for allegedly selling goods above the declared prices under price control.
ICCC commissioner and chief executive Paulus Ain told The National yesterday that of the 41 notices, 34 were issued for first offences and seven for repeated offence.
The shops were issued with notices under the Emergency (Covid-19) Regulations 2020, for inflating prices of goods without prior approval of ICCC. “The first Infringement Notice according to the SOE Order 19 also has a fine of K5,000,” Ain said.
“A repeated offence incurs a penalty of K10,000, any further offence and the matter is taken to court under SOE Laws (Emergency Order 19).”
Hans Wu, manager of Eliseo Ltd trading as E-Mart at East Boroko, who was taken to the Boroko Police Station was one of the first shops on Friday to be issued the notices for allegedly failing to seek approval from ICCC to increase the price of 10kg Trukai medium grain rice above the allowed 5 per cent margin (from K42.90 to K46).
Wilson Chen, manager of Baobao Trading Ltd trading as A Mart, was issued an infringement notice for increasing the price of 20kg Trukai medium grain between March 27 and May 15, 2020 from K87 to K92.90.
Joy Mendoza, manager of Choulai Trading Ltd, was issued with a notice for increasing the retail price of Dolly Tuna 180g can by 8.22 per cent since the last SOE inspection.
Price increased from K3.65 to K3.95. Ain urged all shops to adhere to the regulations.
“The ICCC have been going around making awareness and issuing the orders to the business community,” he said.
“Initially, we started off with the gazettal notice informing the business houses that the prices should not be increased by more than 5 per cent.
“This awareness has been extensive with the assistance of the police and we have effectively distributed to all the business houses, throughout Papua New Guinea, including Port Moresby. This is something that I want to appeal to the business community.
“While we are going through this pandemic, any price change that they wish to make, please seek the approval of the ICCC.
“This is plainly clear in the order 19.
“I am disappointed that they are not seeking that approval from the ICCC, and therefore we are bringing people to the media to inform the people that the business community must comply with the order 19.”