HCM CITY — HCM City is set to crack down on violations related to hoarding, listing of prices and the transportation, storage and sale of prohibited, smuggled, counterfeit, and untraceable goods, according to its Department of Industry and Trade.

With growing imports and an influx of unverified products, especially during the Lunar New Year (Tết), the department has instructed relevant agencies to ensure product quality and traceability of goods for the upcoming Tết, which falls on January 29.

The city Market Surveillance Agency and the people’s committees of districts need to verify invoices and documents related to the origin of goods, and monitor businesses, warehouses and establishments, particularly those producing and trading food, confectionery, and Tết decorations.

They also need to enforce regulations on price declaration and listing to prevent speculation, hoarding and price surges.

The department warned that violators would face stringent penalties, especially those found price gouging in essential and high-demand sectors such as clothing, footwear, confectionery, sugar, fruits, beer, beverages, livestock, poultry meat and fresh foods, electronics, and home appliances.

Labour unions and managements of export processing zones, industrial parks and high-tech parks have been instructed to assess workers’ shopping needs for Tết so that the department could organise mobile sales programmes with promotions.

The department also advised residents to choose goods from reputed companies to avoid untraceable or unsafe food products.

Retailers have been asked to ensure there is a steady supply of goods and enhance promotional and discount programmes for Vietnamese products, essential items, and price-stabilised products.

They are also encouraged to offer Tết gift packages tailored to various consumer preferences, with priority given to OCOP (One Commune, One Product) items and regional specialities.

They have been told to promptly share information about suppliers who fail to meet quality commitments, enhance in-store communications, instruct consumers on recognising and prioritising products that earn the "responsible green tick" label for meeting quality and safety standards.

E-commerce platforms are encouraged to create Tết-themed product booths featuring reputable suppliers, with a priority for domestic products, and to implement substantial promotional campaigns.

The department will monitor the quality of goods sold online to protect consumers.

It emphasised the importance of raising consumer awareness about health risks from consuming products of unknown origin and with unsanitary conditions and unverified quality.

Relevant agencies needed to step up propaganda about this issue, it added.

Nguyễn Nguyên Phương, the department’s deputy director, said distribution systems would work longer than usual during the days leading up to Tết, most would reopen on the second day of Tết, with some not even closing during the holidays.

The supply of price-stabilised goods would remain steady, and so the public should avoid hoarding and unnecessary purchases, he said. — VNS