Nonthaburi, The Commerce Ministry, the Consumer Protection Board, and the Bangkok District Office went to inspect the price labels of products, distributors of religious items, Thai Dharma outfits, and Buddhist Lent candles during the Asarnha Bucha and Khao Phansa festivals. If you find any irregularities, please immediately report them to the hotline 1569. Mr. Udom Srisomsong, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Internal Trade, revealed that in accordance with the policy of Mr. Phumtham Wechayachai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Commerce, who assigned the Department of Internal Trade to inspect and maintain fairness in trade, the Director-General of the Department of Internal Trade has assigned officials to continuously inspect the price situation of goods nationwide, including requesting cooperation from provincial commerce officials to inspect goods that are basic necessities and goods used during important Buddhist festivals in order to maintain fairness in trade and prevent traders fro m taking the opportunity to raise prices without reasonable cause. The Department of Internal Trade, the Office of the Consumer Protection Board, along with officials from the Phra Nakhon District Office, have therefore integrated to inspect manufacturers and distributors of Buddhist offering sets and Thai Dharma sets during important Buddhist holidays, Asalha Bucha Day and Khao Phansa Day, at the Sao Chingcha Intersection, Phra Nakhon District, Bangkok, which is the place where the goods are sold and the one who orders the production of Buddhist offering sets, Thai Dharma sets, and Buddhist Lent candles at leading stores in Bangkok. However, from the inspection of the entrepreneurs, who met and talked with the entrepreneurs of the shops selling Buddhist offering sets, Thai Dharma sets, and Buddhist Lent candles, it was found that the retail price of the products was displayed, along with the product list, size, unit weight, packing volume, and price of each item in the Buddhist offering set or Thai Dharma s et, including the cost of the packaging, was clear. The selling price was stable, with no price adjustments, but the cost of the products in the Buddhist offering set had increased. The sales of products decreased, as consumers changed their behavior to buy smaller Buddhist offering sets or choose to buy consumer goods to make their own Buddhist offering sets. Some consumers preferred to buy ready-made Buddhist offering sets prepared by the temple for convenience, causing the vendors to adjust their products to meet customer needs. As for Buddhist Lent candles, sales decreased because most consumers preferred to buy light bulbs or make donations instead of offering Buddhist Lent candles. This field visit is to ensure that vendors selling Sangkathan sets, Thai Dharma sets, and Buddhist Lent candles strictly comply with relevant laws, preventing vendors from taking advantage of the situation and raising prices without reasonable cause during important religious festivals. They must also strictly comply with th e law by displaying price tags, displaying details of each item in the Sangkathan or Thai Dharma sets, the cost of the containers, and clearly displaying the price of Buddhist Lent candles. If consumers are treated unfairly when purchasing products or receiving services, they can file a complaint with the Department of Internal Trade's hotline 1569 or the provincial commercial offices nationwide. They will investigate to ensure fairness, and if any wrongdoing is found, strict legal action will be taken. In the case of not displaying the prices of products and services, the penalty is a fine not exceeding 10,000 baht. In the case of selling products and services at unreasonably high prices, hoarding products, and refusing to sell, the penalty is imprisonment not exceeding 7 years or a fine not exceeding 140,000 baht, or both, according to the Price of Goods and Services Act B.E. 2542, etc. Source: Thai News Agency