Deputy Prime Minister and Commerce Minister Jurin Laksanawisit has ordered provincial commerce officials to cap the prices of surgical masks at 2.50 baht a piece. 

Mr Jurin said the ordered price ceiling applied to locally made surgical masks while the controlled prices of imported masks were up to 60% higher depending on their types. 

“The Ministry of Commerce will closely monitor prices. I warn those who overprice the products that they are liable to a jail term of up to five years and/or a fine of up to 100,000 baht,” he said. 

Those who hoard surgical masks will face harsher punishment: a jail term of up to seven years and/or a fine of up to 140,000 baht, Mr Jurin said. 

People can report violations to provincial commerce offices or provincial governors or call the hotline number 1569, he said.

Source: TNA