Guarding Against Hoarding and Price Gouging to Ensure Consumer Confidence

To protect the consumer rights of residents and prevent price volatility of daily necessities during the Tomb-Sweeping Festival long holiday, the Chiayi District Prosecutors Office (CDPO) is fully mobilizing the "Livelihood Crime Investigation Liaison Platform." This initiative follows the Executive Yuan's price stabilization policies and directives from the Ministry of Justice and the Taiwan High Prosecutors Office.

On the afternoon of April 4, Chief Prosecutor Tsai Tzung-shi assigned Head Prosecutor Chen Ching-hui to lead a joint inspection team. The team included representatives from the Chiayi County Government (Economic Development Department, Department of Government Ethics, and Consumer Protection Officers), the MJIB Chiayi County Service Station, and the Chiayi County Police Bureau. Together, they conducted in-depth inspections of local hypermarkets and supermarkets to safeguard the public's daily needs.

Field Findings: Supply and Pricing

The inspection focused on essential daily items, specifically plastic bags and disposable packaging. Key observations included:

• Stable Supply: Aside from "flower bags" (which currently require a one-week lead time for delivery), stocks of other plastic consumer goods are abundant.

• Smooth Distribution: Retail channels remain unobstructed.

• Fair Pricing: Prices have remained stable with no signs of abnormal hikes.

The CDPO will continue to monitor supply and demand dynamics to ensure that citizens can purchase necessary supplies at reasonable prices throughout the holiday.

Strict Enforcement to Maintain Market Order

To prevent unscrupulous businesses from exploiting the holiday by hoarding goods or gouging prices, the CDPO has proactively briefed vendors on legal regulations. Any illegal hoarding or unreasonable price hikes may lead to prosecution under the Criminal Code, the Fair Trade Act, and the Social Order Maintenance Act.

The CDPO calls upon businesses to show empathy for the public, exercise self-discipline, and work with the government to create a fair and transparent consumer environment.

Inter-Agency Collaboration: A Strong Support for the Public

Chief Prosecutor Tsai Tzung-shi emphasized that "no livelihood issue is too small," and maintaining stable supplies is a core government responsibility. The CDPO is strengthening its "dual-track" approach with liaison platform members:

1. Prevention: Partnering with consumer protection units to monitor prices in real-time and protect citizens from bearing unreasonable costs.

2. Enforcement: Swiftly investigating and strictly prosecuting any illegal acts that harm public welfare.

The CDPO remains committed to guarding market order and ensuring that the supply chain remains intact, allowing every citizen to enjoy a peaceful holiday with stable living costs.

Photo Caption: CDPO Head Prosecutor Chen Ching-hui, joined by officials from the MJIB Chiayi County Service Station, the Chiayi County Economic Development Department, the Department of Government Ethics, Consumer Protection Officers, and the Chiayi County Police Bureau, conducts joint inspections at local hypermarkets and supermarkets.