Kathmandu: The Department of Commerce, Supplies and Consumer Protection has issued a directive to producers, importers, and distributors to halt the sudden and unjustified price increases observed in daily consumer goods across the market. The department, in a press statement released on Wednesday, emphasized the need for a competitive and fair market system by curbing unnecessary price hikes.
According to National News Agency Nepal, the department has instructed major producers, importers, and distributors of food grains and oil to provide their goods and services without seeking unfair profits. This directive aims to alleviate the burden on consumers by addressing the unnatural price hikes affecting essential goods. Reports of shortages and price increases in daily necessities such as edible oil, cooking gas, and staple rice have drawn serious attention from the department, prompting this intervention.
The department also highlighted the importance of ensuring consumers’ rights to quality goods and services as outlined in the Consumer Protection Act, 2075 BS, and the Consumer Protection Regulations, 2076 BS. To uphold these rights, joint market monitoring is being conducted to oversee the activities of producers, sellers, importers, stockpilers, and service providers of essential daily consumable goods.