Ministry urges Ramadan restraint

In order to ensure that shops are able to keep food prices low during Ramadan, the Consumer Protection Department, under the Ministry of Economy, will not charge – for that period – the fees it normally levies on shops offering discounts and promotions, said department director Dr Hashim Al Nuaimi.

Following a meeting with representatives of major food outlets in Abu Dhabi, Al Nuaimi told Emirates Business that the aim is to let consumers have more options during the holy month. The department has set the condition that to avail of the fee waiver, the shops concerned must also give the department detailed reports on the discounts offered, listing the commodities in stock, their volume and prices.

While he held out this carrot, the ministry official also displayed the stick – on a visit to Ajman yesterday to attend a meeting, Dr Nuaimi warned foodstuff traders and retailers against exploiting consumers by hiking prices during Ramadan. The meeting between the traders and the ministry was arranged by the Economic Licences Department, the Ajman Municipality and the Planning Department. It was also attended by representatives of shopping malls operating in the emirate.

"Traders should not exploit the occasion to make more money and consumers should not buy more than what they need," said Dr Al Nuaimi.

At the Abu Dhabi meeting, he said outlets now directly import more than 1,000 edible items and other consumer commodities, including 450 imported by the Abu Dhabi Co-operative Society, 350 by the Union Co-operative Society, some 70 by Carrefour, some 60 by Lulu and about 100 by other outlets.

The direct imports follow a ministry move to cancel food agencies and allow trading centres to get what they need from countries of origin at competitive prices.

"The ministry has made a comprehensive plan to monitor markets and trading centres during the second half of the year," said Al Nuaimi. The plan includes a variety of options for consumers and formation of teams to monitor shops in remote areas.

The meeting discussed a mechanism to provide food during Ramadan, including three types of baskets. The price of the main basket of 20 major Ramadan commodities is Dh150-Dh250, and this will serve five persons for a week. Next week, the ministry will meet importers of meat, vegetables and fruit to discuss pricing.

"The Ministry of Economy has worked out all possible co-ordination with importers, wholesalers and retailers to ensure that all basic items are available in the market [during Ramadan] and that there is no shortage or monopoly," he said in the Ajman session.

On the flip side, consumers should limit their purchases to what they need so as to avoid irrational and excessive consumption – to do otherwise will mean pressure on the market and a huge wastage, he added.

The official said prices in the local market are now highly stable, especially those of 15 strategic commodities that include rice, meat, poultry, cooking oil, milk, eggs, sugar, flour and bread. A rise or drop in prices of commodities in the five per cent band is normal market movement, he added.

At the Ajman meeting, Mohammed Al Marzouqi, Head of the Economic Licences Department, also stressed the need to provide foodstuff at prices suited to everyone's income instead of turning the holy month into a season of profits.

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