Govt sets commodity price limits to protect citizens

AMMAN — After complaints by citizens that some merchants and shop owners are raising the prices of fruit, vegetable and other food commodities the government set price limits to “ensure market stability”, according to Minister of Industry, Trade and Supply Tariq Hammouri.

Amid a mandated Defence Law and a two-week quarantine, citizens claimed that some vegetable and fruit shops as well as supermarkets and grocery shops are raising prices due to increased demand on produce and commodities.

Sameer Kilani, father of two, told The Jordan Times in a phone interview that “usually, vegetable and fruit shops stock produce in two-metre high displays, with more stored in the stock room, but on Tuesday, the displays were empty, and the shop owner said he would only offer more if customers paid more”.

Kilani added: “It was obvious manipulation and exploitation. Citrons ran out of most vegetable and fruit shops, and this particular shop owner said he will let his workers bring more stock out from storage only if we customers were willing to pay more”.

As a result of such incidents, the government decided late Wednesday to set price ceilings for commodities whose prices were noted to have increased.

The ministry set the following price limits on a kilo of some vegetables: potatoes (45 piasters), tomatoes and eggplant (40 piasters), cucumbers and dry onions (50 piasters) and zucchini (65 piasters).

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Supply also decided to set the price of a kilo of fresh whole chicken at JD2 and frozen whole chicken at JD1.70.

Minister of State for Media Affairs Amjad Adaileh said in a statement that the government “expresses its deepest apologies to any citizen who has been exploited” and that it “promises to shut down any vegetable and fruit shop or supermarket that is taking advantage of the needs of citizens in this tough time”.

“The Defence Law, as His Majesty King Abdullah ordered, will be implemented at its minimum level, but that does not mean that we as a government will tolerate any actions set to take advantage of our citizens under these trying circumstances,” Adaileh said. “Please bear with the government during this critical period, and accept our greetings to all the citizens who are committed to implementing our precautionary decisions, which are in the Kingdom’s best interest.”

“We, as a nation, must stand together,” Adaileh stressed.

Spokesperson for the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Supply Yanal Barmawi said in a statement that the ministry “decided to set price caps for commodities whose prices have been unjustifiably raised since Tuesday to protect citizens, especially in the case of necessary commodities”.

Barmawi called on citizens to report violations to the ministry’s 24/7 emergency complaints hotline at 06/6561176.

Barmawi also called on merchants, especially those in retail trade, to reduce prices and warned them that the ministry will “not hesitate taking the necessary measures in accordance with the provisions of the Industry and Trade law”.

While some shop owners and merchants set out to take advantage of citizens, others offered free bread, commodities and medical supplies.

Some photos circulated online showed stores with signs that read: “If you are in need, please take what you need and walk out.”

Other stores offered to deliver commodities to the elderly, while some pharmacies announced on their social media platforms that they would be distributing masks and hand sanitiser for free.

“We, the owners of Al Huda Pharmacy, are giving out free masks upon learning that some stores are charging citizens exorbitant prices for them,” announced the pharmacy located in Irbid.