Tet
goods on display at AP PLAZA supermarket merchandise
Touring traditional markets in Hoa Binh, confectionaries and
decorations for Lunar New Year occasion have been made available on shelves.
All these goods are in stock to ensure a stable and abundant supply for local
demand, with supermakets and malls committed to keeping prices unchanged.
Our survey showed that Tet goods are more diverse compared to the
same period last year. Domestically made confectionaries are dominating the
market thanks to appealing appearance and fine quality. Various promotional
programmes have been launched, particularly among retailers of electronic
devices, apparel, and cushions - pillows - bed sheets – mattress – blanket and
other necessary consumer items. Prices of Tet goods have recorded increases
hovering around 5 percent from the same period last year.
The market surveillance team has launched a plan to revise and monitor the
quality and origins of necessities ahead of the Lunar New Year festival while
ensuring food safety. The 389/DP Steering Board for anti-smuggling and fake
goods also issued a plan stepping up goods examination on this occasion.
Accordingly, inter-sectoral agencies have worked to increase monitoring against
smuggling, fake goods and trade fraud, with police, market surveillance and
food hygiene and safety agencies being the main forces.
The agencies have obtained achievements on the first days of their
tasks. On January 17, police and market surveillance team stopped a case of
transporting 100kg of spoiled pork skin
without clear origin in Quy Hau commune (Tan Lac district), which was on the
way to Thanh Hoa province. When checking a coach en route from Dien Bien to
Ninh Binh province, relevant agencies discovered four jute bags in the luggage
compartment which contained more than 500kg of goat meat without quarantine
seal and clear origin. All products of violation were confiscated so they could
not be sold in the market. Earlier, those forces also stopped a smuggling case
of firecrackers.
Deputy head of the provincial market surveillance branch Tran Duc
Truong stressed that market monitoring ahead of the Tet festival is a main
task. During this time, market surveillance teams in all localities have
focused on market monitoring, especially in mountainous markets and shops selling
Tet goods which draw many customers.
Some people may sell low quality and fake goods to illegally earn
profits and take advantage of increasing shopping demand to overcharge
consumers. There are other tricks, including taking advantage of mountainous
people’s trust to sell low quality and cheap products. Authorised agencies will
step up monitoring to discover and tackle violations, helping consumers purchase
high quality products and have a safe Tet, he added./.