Launch system to control prices and sanction breaches in Province

The Buenosairean government made available to the municipalities a tool to control prices and sanction noncompliance, in the face of the coronavirus health emergency.

Through decree 177/20, the Buenos Aires government created the Monitoring System for Supply and Prices of Essential Products (SIMAP) by the Ministry of Production, Science and Technological Innovation.

The system establishes a list of essential products, which It includes some 2,100 products, the prices of which must be rolled back to the value in force as of March 6, and which cannot be increased during a period of 90 calendar days, from their entry into force.

Who are included

According to what is established in the system, the subjects obliged to comply with what is established are the wholesale commercial establishments selling mass consumer products, which have a sales room; all businesses that carry out retail sale of consumer products; warehouses, markets, supermarkets, supermarkets and hypermarkets.

Likewise, the legal and human persons that participate in the different stages and chains of production, distribution and intermediate and final marketing of each of the products declared essential.

Further, SIMAP establishes that the members of the production, distribution and marketing chain of the declared essential goods must maintain the levels of production and supply of such goods up to the maximum of its installed capacity and to arbitrate the appropriate measures to ensure its transportation and provision.

As indicated in the regulations, the members of the production, distribution and marketing chain of the goods reached must report weekly the sale prices of such goods, supply levels and production.

In the same way, they must inform immediately in the event that they cannot fulfill their obligations for reasons that transcend them, denouncing through a simple web form what are the reasons why they are not in a position to comply with the regulations.

Monitoring and oversight of compliance with the regulations will be carried out through the joint and coordinated work of the National, Provincial and Municipal Government, through systematic and articulated controls throughout the province.

Sanctions

Meanwhile, it highlights that those businesses in which the inspectors find non-compliances without the corresponding justifications having been previously provided will be liable to all sanctions established in the Supply Law, from fines, closings, disqualifications, confiscation of merchandise and products or suspension of registrations.

Finally, consumers will be able, through a website, to consult reference prices and report price noncompliance or alert for lack of supply.

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