The Department of Commerce, Supplies and Consumer Protection has instructed producers, importers and distributors to halt sudden and unjustified price increases in daily consumer goods.

In a Wednesday statement, the department called on all stakeholders to maintain a competitive and fair market system. “Major producers, importers and distributors of food grains and oil are instructed to provide goods without taking unfair profits and to address unnatural price hikes to offer relief to consumers,” the statement said.

The department said complaints from consumers and media reports about rising prices and shortages of essentials, including edible oil, cooking gas and staple rice, had drawn its serious attention.

Authorities stressed that consumer rights under the Consumer Protection Act, 2018, and Consumer Protection Regulations, 2019, must be upheld. Joint market monitoring is underway to inspect producers, sellers, importers, stockpilers and service providers of essential goods nationwide, the department said.