Bangkok: The Consumer Protection Board (CPB) has implemented new consumer protection measures in response to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. Minister Santi Piyathat, attached to the Prime Minister's Office, chaired a meeting at Government House to discuss the potential impact of the conflict on the prices of essential goods and services, including travel, tourism, food, medicine, oil, and gold.
According to Thai News Agency, the Consumer Protection Committee (CPCC) has outlined six specific measures and an integrated action plan to safeguard consumers during this period of unrest. The measures are in alignment with the Consumer Protection Act and aim to proactively shield consumers from exploitation. Key measures include the establishment of an additional hotline with 10 lines for urgent consumer complaints, increased supervision and control of businesses, and frequent inspections to prevent consumer exploitation through misleading advertising, hoarding, and inflated pricing.
The CPB is also urging merchants to offer a variety of payment options, including credit cards, bank transfers, and cash, to accommodate consumers facing disruptions in telecommunication networks or power supply. Additionally, consumers are encouraged to purchase goods and services from online platforms registered with the CPB to ensure fair dispute resolution, particularly for high-value items like jewelry and gold.
The CPB is implementing strict regulations on gold sales, ensuring compliance with the law and monitoring price controls to prevent consumer exploitation. Furthermore, the CPB is promoting consumer awareness about their rights concerning price, quality, and standards to facilitate informed purchasing decisions across both traditional and online channels.
On March 9th, a meeting is scheduled to implement the proactive integrated plan, which will provide policy guidance to provincial commanders and sub-committees for consumer protection in each province, as well as in Bangkok and Pattaya. This initiative aims to enforce the six measures effectively to ensure consumer protection and welfare.