Retail ceiling price for 3-ply face masks to drop to 70 sen

The new retail ceiling price for three-ply face masks will be reduced to 70 sen from RM1 per piece effective Nov 1.

Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Alexander Nanta Linggi said the wholesale ceiling price of three-ply face masks would also be reduced to 65 sen apiece from 95 sen previously.

He said the ministry had reviewed the price of face masks together with local manufacturers and importers, taking into account the need for people to continue adopting new norms.

“This new ceiling price will be enforced through the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering Act 2011,” he said in a statement today.

Nanta said the retail ceiling price for single-layer face masks would be set at seven sen apiece, while two-layer face masks would be 20 sen apiece and N95 face masks RM6.

He also said the ministry had conducted 67,217 inspections and monitored the price and supply of face masks nationwide from Jan 29 until Oct 25.

“The inspections resulted in 73 cases with the value of seizures worth RM543,737 and total compounds of RM518,400,” he said.

He said traders could be fined for failing to comply with the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering Act 2011.

Individuals selling items above the ceiling price can be fined up to RM100,000, jailed for not more than three years, or both, or pay a compound of up to RM50,000, while companies can be fined up to RM500,000 or pay a compound of up to RM250,000.

“For the offence of failing to put a price tag on controlled price items, individuals can be fined up to RM50,000 or pay a compound of up to RM25,000, while companies can be fined up to RM100,000 or pay a compound of up to RM50,000,” he said.