webfact Posted March 5, 2020 Share Posted March 5, 2020 Commerce Ministry calls meeting on face mask hoarding BANGKOK (NNT) - The supply of face masks is reported to be disrupted by panic buy and hoarding. To ensure availability to those needing them, the Ministry of Commerce is enforcing stricter measures requiring those in possession of face masks over a certain quantity to report to the Department of Internal Trade. This is in addition to the current requirement for traders, manufacturers, and exporters to report their inventory. This morning, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Commerce Jurin Laksanawisit called a meeting with the Central Committee on the Price of Goods and Services to find a measure against face mask hoarding, and to determine the quantity considered reasonable for individual possession. This new measure will apply at first to the general public and companies that are not related to the pharmaceutical trade, as well as online and offline sellers. The measure was initiated after several social media posts where posters claimed to have a stack of face masks ready to be sold at a high price. Once in effect, any persons selling face masks at unreasonable prices, or holding a big quantity of face masks without informing the authorities, will be punishable by law. As for the production of surgical masks, all production lines in the country are now working at full capacity, increasing the national production yield to 38 million pieces per month. All of these new masks will now be entirely managed by the Ministry of Commerce’s management center, which will ensure more efficient and inclusive distribution. The Commerce Ministry previously required manufacturers to send 40-45 percent of their products to the center. The Ministry of Commerce will be holding discussions with the Ministry of Public Health, private hospitals, and the manufacturers to prioritize distribution to those who are most in need. The Ministry of Commerce’s Permanent Secretary Boonyarit Kalayanamit, said today the ministry has already held talk with the Ministry of Public Health, the Food and Drugs Administration, the Thai Pharmacies Association, the Ministry of a Digital Economy and Society, the Royal Thai Police, and the Technology Crime Suppression Division to address mask shortages. He said the authorities have reached an agreement to control the product from the point of production, with officials from the Ministry of Commerce deployed to factories regulating the inventory and production capacity. On the higher manufacturing cost, the Department of Internal Trade will be offering help, ensuring that factories can produce surgical masks for sale at 2.5 baht per piece. The government may also offer special support for companies that wish to import more machinery to increase their production capacity. The Ministry of Commerce’s permanent secretary has declined to comment regarding a complaint from the Private Hospitals’ Association regarding surgical mask shortages at hospitals, saying that this is a matter for the Ministry of Public Health to manage, while any persons who want to export face masks must file for advance approval, except for patients holding a medical certificate. The Ministry of Commerce has already filed charges against those gouging the price of face masks in 31instances, and those not properly displaying the price in 20 cases. -- © Copyright NNT 2020-03-05 Follow Thaivisa on LINE for breaking Thailand news and visa info Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xtof2 Posted March 5, 2020 Share Posted March 5, 2020 So, get this one, this one and this one in my car. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NCC1701A Posted March 5, 2020 Share Posted March 5, 2020 1 hour ago, webfact said: The Ministry of Commerce’s Permanent Secretary Boonyarit Kalayanamit, said today the ministry has already held talk with the Ministry of Public Health, the Food and Drugs Administration, the Thai Pharmacies Association, the Ministry of a Digital Economy and Society, the Royal Thai Police, and the Technology Crime Suppression Division to address mask shortages. all in one room at the same time no doubt. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
legend49 Posted March 5, 2020 Share Posted March 5, 2020 Its bizarre. Cant get Thais to wear a motorbike helmet but they will fight tooth and nail for a 14 baht face mask, even get up at 4 am and buy them. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KKr Posted March 5, 2020 Share Posted March 5, 2020 56 minutes ago, legend49 said: Its bizarre. Cant get Thais to wear a motorbike helmet but they will fight tooth and nail for a 14 baht face mask, even get up at 4 am and buy them. some time before the burning season: 50 masks for 65 Baht in a recognised Pharmacy. so 14 Baht seems like profiteering, to me at least, but some re-sellers on internet are already offering at close to 20 B. and concerning production increase: after about two months of production, one Mask per person. That is a big consolation , but will go some way to supply hospitals. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vacuum Posted March 5, 2020 Share Posted March 5, 2020 5 hours ago, webfact said: As for the production of surgical masks, all production lines in the country are now working at full capacity, increasing the national production yield to 38 million pieces per month. All of these new masks will now be entirely managed by the Ministry of Commerce’s management center, which will ensure more efficient and inclusive distribution. How many of those masks (albeit ineffective) will be sold to China? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trainman34014 Posted March 5, 2020 Share Posted March 5, 2020 Yes; lets have another meeting with free lunch and wine and why not form another 'Committee' of all our relatives and cronies to 'Mull' over the problem whilst eating more free lunches ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hotchilli Posted March 5, 2020 Share Posted March 5, 2020 What happened to the "we can produce 100 million per month" promise? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cake Monster Posted March 5, 2020 Share Posted March 5, 2020 15 minutes ago, hotchilli said: What happened to the "we can produce 100 million per month" promise? It went the same way as all the other promises 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hotchilli Posted March 5, 2020 Share Posted March 5, 2020 20 hours ago, webfact said: The Ministry of Commerce’s Permanent Secretary Boonyarit Kalayanamit, said today the ministry has already held talk with the Ministry of Public Health, the Food and Drugs Administration, the Thai Pharmacies Association, the Ministry of a Digital Economy and Society, the Royal Thai Police, and the Technology Crime Suppression Division to address mask shortages So the manufacturers & distributors were not included? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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