ASAE opened 16 criminal proceedings on Thursday for price speculation in connection with the violation of the application of the VAT exemption measure to products in the essential food basket, it was announced on Friday.
In a statement released this Friday, the Food and Economic Security Authority (ASAE) states that during the same operation on Thursday, six criminal proceedings for price speculation, namely regarding variations in the posted price compared to the price available to the consumer, with variations of up to 58%.
“With regard to unauthorized administrative violations, six violations were identified, the most important of which are the lack of price display, the lack of metrological control and the non-compliance with general and specific hygiene rules, with most unauthorized acts being committed in supermarkets, minimarkets and hypermarkets” ASAE says in the statement.
The ASAE inspection operation was carried out on Thursday from the north to the south of the country to verify whether the legal provisions on food products exempt from value added tax (VAT), namely with regard to fiscal measures of an exceptional and temporary nature , as well as such as the verification of the display of prices in trade and the correct information to consumers, preventing speculation.
In the operation there were 47 brigades, a total of 94 inspectors, 160 economic operators were inspected and 16 criminal proceedings were initiated for price speculation related to the violation of the application of the VAT exemption measure to products of the essential food basket – bread, vegetables, meat , fish, tuna, rice, fruit, olive oil and dairy products.
ASAE adds that it will “continue to develop inspection actions, within the scope of its powers, throughout the national territory, in favor of healthy and fair competition between economic operators, in ensuring food safety and consumer health”.
Source: DN
