The National Society for Consumer Protection expressed its concern as a result of the repeated hikes that affected some basic commodities, whether locally produced or imported, in the absence of the relevant regulatory authorities.
Al-Bawsala – where the association called on the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Supply to activate its supervisory role on the markets after the rise in some basic commodities such as milk, rice, sugar, meat, chicken and other commodities. Especially since the majority of citizens live in difficult economic conditions and an increasing weakness in purchasing power, which will burden them with additional burdens that they will not be able to bear.

Dr. Muhammad Obeidat, Head of Consumer Protection, said that during the last period, we have monitored and read the prices of some basic commodities that the family needs on a daily basis, such as milk, red meat, rice and vegetable oils, whose prices have risen in rates that are not simple and cannot be tolerated, especially as we are on the verge of the blessed month of Ramadan, which is usually Where prices rise due to the increase in demand for these commodities, or as a result of some merchants raising the prices of these commodities, taking advantage of the needs of citizens, or extravagance and lack of rationalization by some who buy more quantities than they buy in the rest of the months.

Obeidat added that these commodities are subject to additional increases with the beginning of the holy month. For example, a kilo of lamb meat imported from various farms used to be sold between 5 and a half to 6 and a half dinars, and now it is sold between 6 and a half to 7 and a half dinars, and raw chicken was sold for a dinar. Twenty piasters, and it is now sold between one and a half dinars to one dinar and seventy piasters. As for rice, its selling prices have increased by 25 piasters. Also, the size of the packages for this basic substance has been changed. Some of them reduced the size of the package and kept its price, or reduced the size of the package and raised its selling price, and this is considered misleading to consumers. The same applies to vegetable oils, some types of which rose while others remained high, despite their decline in the global markets.

With regard to the issue of dairy, Obeidat stated that some dairy companies have raised the prices of their products and did not abide, as usual, by the agreement concluded between them and the Ministry, which requires not to raise the prices of their products except after referring to the Ministry and making a real study by all relevant parties. What happened in the past days is good. Evidence of this, as it raised the prices of some weights by 15 piasters without the ministry preventing them and taking the appropriate action against them. We fear that other factories will raise their prices as this company did.
Obeidat called on citizens to moderate their purchases and adapt to their financial capabilities, not to buy and store commodities that they do not need in the current period for fear of their rise in the blessed month of Ramadan, and to suffice with buying as soon as possible and boycotting commodities whose prices are exaggeratedly high.