HCM City authorities have been asked to ensure supply of oil and petrol to meet local demand, and to stop instances of hoarding and trade fraud. — VNA Photo Xuân Khu

HCM City businesses and authorities have been asked to ensure sufficient oil and petrol for local demand, and to prevent hoarding of these goods during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Nguyen Huynh Trang, deputy director of the city’s Department of Industry and Trade, requested last week that oil and petrol distributors and retailers in the city ensure sufficient supply for local demand.

Businesses were also told not to sell to customers who use containers to hoard oil and petrol, and to have their staff strictly follow directives to protect against COVID-19.

Meanwhile, the Police Department of Fire Prevention, Fighting and Rescue and district police have been told to inform locals not to hoard oil and petrol due to fire hazards, and to carry out inspections and deal with violators.

Wards, communes, towns and residential areas also have to spread awareness about the issue.

The city’s Market Surveillance team will work with authorities to monitor oil and petrol business activities in the city and stop instances of trade fraud, low-quality products, or the withholding of goods and other fraudulent activities.

Many oil and petrol businesses in the city said they were seeing fewer and fewer customers even though prices have fallen, as most residents are working from home. — VNS