Inspectors intensify oversight of price formation and movement

(Patria) - Since the declaration of the new coronavirus (COVID-19) global pandemic, the Federal Administration for Inspection Affairs has put all its capacities into protecting the population. In this regard, among other things, the Federal Market Inspectorate is intensifying oversight of the formation and movement of prices for protective medical equipment - masks, gloves, disinfectants, and other supplies and equipment, as well as basic foodstuffs for which demand has increased due to citizens' growing fear for their health, the Administration announced.

As of March 14, 2020, the on-duty team of the Federal Market Inspectorate, according to available data so far, conducted a total of 11 inspections and identified 16 violations, which resulted in the issuance of 16 violation orders totaling 43,500.00 KM.

According to reports from the Federal Market Inspectorate, no widespread unreasonable price increases have been recorded yet. If this occurs, the Federal Administration for Inspection Affairs will propose to the Federal Ministry of Trade and the Government of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina to adopt a decision prescribing measures for direct price control and margin limitation.

"We once again appeal to all business entities, distributors, and other legal and natural persons engaged in wholesale and retail trade of the aforementioned products to consider the citizens' standard of living and market stability when setting prices, and we warn that all abuses of consumer rights and conditions of free price formation and unreasonable price increases due to increased demand caused by citizens' fear and the declaration of the coronavirus global pandemic will be sanctioned.

We also call on all retail and wholesale businesses to apply the maximum degree of legality and responsibility in their operations when setting prices, and we warn that all identified abuses will be most severely sanctioned," the statement said.

The Administration reminds citizens that the Federal Minister of Trade, Zlatan Vujanović, confirmed that all stores in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina are adequately supplied with all consumer goods, emphasizing goods such as food products and hygiene supplies for which there is currently excessive demand due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Citizens are asked to report any irregularities observed to the following FUZIP contacts:
- Reporting phone: 033 / 22 66 44 (open 24 hours)
- Email: [email protected]
- By mail, to the address Fehima ef. Čurčića br. 6. Sarajevo.