Price of wheat flour unchanged

The price of wheat flour has not been changed or revised, and any retailer selling flour at an increased price will be raided, the Industry and Commerce Ministry said yesterday. 

“Increasing wheat flour prices at a critical time like this, when the country is preparing for a critical Election is clearly conspiratorial and part of a plot to discredit the Government. Any supplier responsible for such a price hike without our permission does it illegally and will therefore face legal consequences irrespective of their status or standing in the market,” warned the Industry, Commerce, Resettlement of Protracted Displaced Persons, Cooperative Development, Skills Development and Vocational Training Minister Rishad Bathiudeen.

Minister Bathiudeen yesterday said this in response to news reports of a wheat flour price increase by a supplier, carried out without the Consumer Affairs Authority’s (CAA) approval. Minister Bathiudeen has instructed the CAA to raid errant retailers who violate flour prices and push consumers into a difficult situation.

Violators guilty of this offence can be fined or imprisoned under Section 60 of Act No. 9 of 2003. If the violator is not a company or firm but a person, then the punishment would include a fine of Rs. 5,000 to Rs. 50,000 or one-year imprisonment for a first offence; and for any subsequent offence (by the person) a fine of Rs. 10,000 to Rs. 100,000 or a maximum of two years imprisonment or both punishments could be incurred.

If the violator is a company or firm, then in the first instance of violation/offence, a fine of Rs. 50,000 to Rs. 100,000 or a maximum of two years imprisonment would be given, and for any subsequent offence, a fine of Rs. 100,000 to Rs. 2,000,000 could be incurred. For consumer complaints, contact the CAA via 011 7755481-3 and 1977.