Stopping the illegal transport of fresh foods to prevent corona

Market Management force checked the business compliance at some stores at Hapulico Drug Market (Hanoi).

On February 1, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc signed Decision No.173/QD-TTg announcing the acute respiratory infection epidemic caused by the corona virus (2019-nCoV).

Shortly thereafter, the General Department of Market Management issued official dispatch No. 156/TCQLTT-CNV sent to the Departments of Market Management of provinces and cities to deploy the prevention of acute respiratory infections caused by 2019-nCoV.

Implementing the direction of the Prime Minister and Directive No. 04/CT-BCT of the Minister of Industry and Trade on solutions to cope with acute respiratory infections caused by 2019-nCoV of the industry and trade sector, the General Department of Market Management asked the Departments of Market Management of provinces and cities to implement the guidance of the Minister of Industry and Trade in Directive No. 04/CT-BCT.

Specifically, there should fully equipped tools and vehicles for officials and employees of the Market Management to ensure their safety during the performance of duties; strengthening management by locality, checking listing of selling prices and selling at right prices, focusing on checking acts of taking advantage of the situation of scarcity of goods to buy goods or take advantage of epidemics to set unreasonable prices of goods which are medical equipment, health protection used for prevention and treatment when the market has fluctuations in supply and demand, and prices of goods due to the corona virus.

If detecting these acts, it is necessary to strictly handle or transfer to competent authorities to handle in accordance with provisions of law.

In addition, strengthening inspection and control to prevent illegal transport and trade of wild animals and fresh foods to contribute to the prevention of the spread of disease; chair and coordinate with concerned units in organising inspection teams on supply and distribution of medical equipment and health protection used for prevention and treatment of diseases. They should not let the situation of speculative hoarding happen at retailers or stores earning profit from increasing demand and strictly handling violations.

It is also important to coordinate with competent forces that are members of Steering Committee 389 and local agencies to strictly implement the Directive No. 06/CT-TTg of the Prime Minister in prohibiting travel through trails and paths in Vietnam-China border areas; temporarily closing trails and paths; and discouraging trade and exchanges with China during the epidemic.

Along with that, grasping information, monitoring and closely supervising the situation and development of the disease and markets to respond to emergency cases .

If there are signs of scarcity of goods such as foods, medical equipment, pharmaceuticals, petrol, gas, consumer goods, etc, appear then they should be reported to the People's Committee, Steering Committee 389 of the provincies and Ministry of Industry and Trade to direct the implementation of solutions to ensure stability of supply and demand and circulation of essential goods for serving people during the epidemic.

In particular, the Market Management force should pay attention to detect and timely handle acts of speculative hoarding of goods and raising unreasonable prices of goods. They should try not to affect the supply of essential commodities to serve people.

Market Management Departments of provinces and cities need to thoroughly grasp, direct and implement epidemic prevention and control activities to each unit and employee, ensuring regular response during the epidemic (including holidays, outside office hours) to promptly update, report on the development, situation and handle situations in the locality.

The General Department of Market Management requested Market Management Departments of provinces and cities immediately establish a permanent group of prevention and control led by a leader of the department as a contact point in order to direct, administrate and report on the prevention of corona.