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Committee to protect consumers against unfair hike in food prices
Sultan Bin Saeed Al Mansouri, Minister of Economy and Chairman of the Supreme Committee for Consumer Protection, headed the group's fourth meeting, where discussions on measures to manage food prices dominated.
- Staff Report
- Published: 23:25 January 25, 2009
- Image Credit: Ahmed Kutty/Gulf News
- The Supreme Committee for Consumer Protection has vowed to uphold consumer interests by ensuring that residents are not exposed to unfair price increases for essential goods.
Dubai: Sultan Bin Saeed Al Mansouri, Minister of Economy and Chairman of the Supreme Committee for Consumer Protection, headed the group's fourth meeting, where discussions on measures to manage food prices dominated.
The committee reviewed and declined supplier requests to hike commodity prices, highlighting its objective of upholding consumer interests.
Key issues discussed at the meeting include the food security plan and an early alert system to ensure that the prices of essential goods are managed effectively.
Mansouri said the group is committed to ensuring that consumers are not exposed to unfair prices of essential goods, and works to strengthen the harmonious relations between suppliers and consumers.
"Consumer protection is a priority for us and is essential in strengthening customer confidence and thus driving domestic demand," he added.
The committee discussed the food security plan and the storage process that has been implemented by the UAE to manage the food supply.
It also highlighted the results of the agreement that the economy ministry signed with major retail outlets in the UAE.
"These partnerships of the retail outlets with the ministry highlight their corporate social responsibility to stabilise commodity prices for the benefit of the public," said Al Mansouri.
The 'Early Alert System', another topic of discussion, aimed to investigate the reasons behind the shortage of commodities globally, and device means to avoid losses from unprecedented price rises and supply fluctuations in the international markets.
The Department is currently preparing a price guide, which is aimed at protecting consumers from price manipulation.
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