In the Karaganda region, prices for a number of socially significant food products were reduced during an inspection. This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing Sputnik Kazakhstan.
The Department for Consumer Rights Protection identified cases of unjustifiably high trade markups on food products. For instance, in Karaganda city, one store owner purchased rice at 205 tenge per kilogram and sold it to the public at 556 tenge. That is, a 160% trade markup was applied.
The entrepreneur was brought to administrative responsibility. As a result, the price of rice was reduced to 235 tenge, said department specialists.
Other cases of unjustified price increases for socially significant goods were also found in the region. In particular, the purchase price of hard cheese was 3,353 tenge, while it was supplied to retail chains at 5,517 tenge. Following the inspection, the product's price was reduced to 3,855 tenge.
Similarly, black tea purchased for 472 tenge was sold in the store for 1,079 tenge. Department specialists lowered its price to 496 tenge.
The price of chicken mince was also unjustifiably inflated. The entrepreneur purchased the product at 1,655 tenge per kilogram and sold it at 2,400 tenge. After control measures, the price was reduced to 1,903 tenge.
It should be noted that the trade markup on socially significant food products should not exceed 15%.