Zhejiang investigated and dealt with a number of illegal cases of driving up the prices of epidemic-related materials, and the highest increase of products exceeded 600%
In response to the recent abnormal price fluctuations in the epidemic-related materials market, the Zhejiang Provincial Market Supervision and Administration Bureau has increased the price supervision and law enforcement of three types of epidemic-related materials, including medical drugs, antigen detection reagents, and protective equipment, and carried out online and offline inspections. Illegal clues of price gouging were strictly investigated and dealt with quickly in accordance with the law, and the first batch of nine typical cases of price gouging of epidemic-related materials were announced on the evening of the 16th.
On December 8, law enforcement officers from the Market Supervision Bureau of Nanxun District, Huzhou City, Zhejiang Province discovered during an online inspection that a clinic of integrated traditional Chinese and western medicine uploaded a video on the Douyin platform, disseminating information that the prices of epidemic-related drugs such as Lianhua Qingwen were about to increase significantly.
On the same day, the on-site inspection found that it posted a notice in the diagnosis and treatment service area, saying that "due to limited inventory and difficulty in purchasing, four epidemic-related drugs, Lianhua Qingwen, Shuanghuanglian Oral Liquid, Vitamin C Yinqiao Tablets, and Banlangen Granules, will be released in December. The price will increase from the 10th."
The relevant person in charge of the Nanxun District Market Supervision Bureau stated that the clinic used Douyin and posted notices in the diagnosis and treatment service area to spread price increase information to attract consumers to come to buy, further pushing up price expectations, and was suspected of constituting an illegal act of driving up prices.
The Nanxun District Market Supervision Bureau has opened a case for investigation on December 9 and will make an administrative penalty decision in the near future.
On December 14, the Market Supervision Bureau of Zhuji City, Zhejiang Province, based on the clues of the report, conducted a law enforcement inspection on an e-commerce company in Zhuji City according to law, and found that the company’s medical and health products store on an e-commerce platform sold KN95 masks. The transaction price has gradually increased from 18.68 yuan/pack on December 6 to 48.90 yuan/pack on December 9, 89.90 yuan/pack on December 10, and 139.90 yuan/pack on December 14, with the highest increase of 648.93 %.
The Zhuji City Market Supervision Bureau filed a case for investigation on December 15 and will make an administrative punishment decision in the near future.
It is reported that the typical cases announced involve pharmacies, clinics, drug sales companies and e-commerce companies in Shaoxing, Huzhou, Lishui, Taizhou and other places. In addition to spreading information about price increases to drive up prices, some use compulsory bundled sales to drive up prices in disguise, and some A substantial increase in prices without a significant increase in costs.
While strengthening law enforcement, the Zhejiang Provincial Market Supervision and Administration Bureau will also strengthen early warning research and judgment, and comprehensively use reminders and warnings, administrative interviews, policy guidance and other methods to guide relevant companies to operate with integrity in accordance with the law.