Given the announcements made by butchers about the possible increase in the price of beef, the Diaco announces that it has begun operations to prevent speculation.
The Direccion de Atención y Asistencia al Consumidor (Diaco), an agency of the Ministry of Economy, informed that it has begun operations to verify red meat prices nationwide, warning that it will not tolerate any abuse and price speculation.
The business sector in Guatemala rejects the measure of the Ministry of Economy, which establishes maximum sales prices to the consumer for certain pharmaceutical products, while the state of disaster decreed by covid-19 lasts.
The Ministry of Economy of Guatemala issued an agreement establishing maximum sales prices to consumers for certain pharmaceutical products, while the state of calamity decreed by covid-19 lasts.
Arguing that the health of the nation's inhabitants is a public good and that institutions are required to ensure its conservation and restoration, the government will regulate the prices of several medicines.
In order to ensure that a possible de-regulation would not generate an unjustified increase in the products considered to be of greater sensitivity, the government decided to extend the price control system of the basic basket for six more months.
At present, the list of products whose prices are controlled includes beef slices, ribbon steaks, ground beef, whole chicken, rice, onions, yams, national potatoes, perita tomatoes, cassava, powdered milk, sliced bread, processed American yellow cheese and sausages.
A presidential decree gives the National Energy Secretariat the power to regulate maximum retail prices for 91 and 95 octane gasoline and low-sulfur diesel.
The regulation of maximum prices will be in effect for a six-month period, which may be extended, according to Executive Decree No. 474 of June 10, 2020 published in the Official Journal.
In Panama, the government established the maximum gross profit margin in the entire commercialization chain, for different personal hygiene, cleaning and consumption items, which are of primary need.
According to Decree 152 dated May 13, the measure decreed is with the aim of mitigating the outbreak of covid-19 and to give the general population access to most products.
Authorities in El Salvador agreed that the prices of the masks should range from $0.73 to $2.67, while for alcohol gel it will be from $1.14 to $24.25, depending on the brands and presentations.
The Ministry of Economy will be in charge of setting the average price list of the products of the basic basket that will be in force in the country.
Article 3 of the decree approved by the Congress of the Republic explains that "... the Ministry of the Economy will set the average price list as of March 15, 2020, for each of the 34 products that make up the Basic Food Basket in its different forms of presentation, unit, pound, quintal, etc."
In the context of the covid-19 crisis, the Salvadoran authorities decided to establish a maximum price for all products in the basic basket.
The Consumer Defense Office has selected beans, corn, rice, milk and eggs as essential products, which must be kept at accessible prices in the local market.
In response to the covid-19 pandemic, the country's authorities set the price of masks at between $0.20 and $2.60, while for alcohol gel it will be $0.95 to $3.94.
The Consumer Defense Office ordered the maximum sales prices of the masks and alcohol gel, in order to contain speculation about the global coronavirus pandemic.
The maximum prices of each of the products detailed in the Agreement, may be modified informally by the Consumer Defense Office or at the request of suppliers to the latter, provided that the latter demonstrate causes that prove it, a procedure that will be carried out as a matter of priority and expeditiously, explains the statement.
The authorities plan to regulate the prices of disinfectant soaps in tablet or liquid form, disinfectant sprays, liquid alcohol, alcohol gels and disinfectant towels.
According to official statistics, up to March 16, 41 cases of people infected with the coronavirus had been reported, and another 615 patients who were examined were found to be negative.
Although at the beginning of the Cortizo administration it was announced that the price control system for the basic basket would be gradually removed, now the Panamanian president is threatening to add products that were already excluded again, if their prices rise.
On January 7, it was confirmed that the price control on 14 products of the basic family food basket would be extended for six more months, a measure that was rejected by the Panamanian business sector.
Panamanian businessmen are opposed to extending price controls on 14 products in the basic family food basket for six months.
The list of products whose prices are controlled includes slank, ribbon steak, ground beef, whole chicken, rice, onions, yams, national potatoes, perita tomatoes, yucca, powdered milk, sliced bread, processed American yellow cheese and sausages.
At the beginning of the Cortizo administration the quantity of products with controlled prices in Panama was reduced from 22 to 14, and from January 1, 2020 the list will decrease to 7.
The gradual elimination of price control has been one of the actions that has strengthened the Cortizo administration, because since July 7, eggs, macaroni, beans, lentils, chop, marrow, breast and tuna, ceased to be part of the list of products, whose prices are controlled.
The gradual abolition of price control, the creation of the PPP regulatory framework and greater flexibility in preferential interests in the housing market are the advances recognized by Panamanian businessmen in the first 100 days of the Cortizo era.