During the first ten days, 1,860 audits were carried out around the country with the participation of 2,686 AFIP agents.
During the first ten days of the control operations 1,860 audits were carried out around the country with the participation of 2,686 agents of the Federal Administration of Public Revenue (AFIP).
The joint audits with the Ministry of Internal Trade of the Ministry of Productive Development had federal coverage that was coordinated through the different
agencies and dependencies of the organism. AFIP inspectors carried out 9 preventive closings to pharmacies, supermarkets and self-services.
“Price controls and inspections are essential to limit abuses and guarantee access to food and products like gel alcohol, chinstraps and disinfectants. We will be relentless with those who put abusive prices or hide merchandise. The only way to get through this crisis is with an active and present State to take care of the pocket and health of all Argentines, “said Mercedes Marcó del Pont.
The inspections included 795 pharmacies, 1,050 supermarkets and supermarkets, 13 alcohol gel factories and 2 companies producing chinstraps.
All the supermarket chains and wholesalers audited throughout the past week registered irregularities in some of their stores. AFIP inspectors detected abusive prices in 8 out of 10 inspections.
In most cases, the irregularities were corrected on the spot. The AFIP inspectors control that the prices in supermarkets, pharmacies, neighborhood stores and wholesalers do not exceed the reference maximums (they are those declared by the businesses themselves on March 6, 2020).
The audits also aim to avoid shortages of the surveyed products, in particular to prevent merchants from hiding stocks.
When irregularities are identified, a price correction is requested and, only if this does not happen, the “preventive closure” of the establishment is carried out. The goal is not to close businesses, but inspectors are instructed to be relentless with abusive practices.
However, before proceeding with the closure, an attempt is made to ensure that there are no lines of consumers waiting to make a purchase. If businesses proceed to correct irregularities, closings are lifted in less than four hours so as not to affect customer service.
Price control operations
There were 9 preventive closings in ten days. In the City of Buenos Aires there were 2 closings: a pharmacy in Paternal for abusive prices on alcohol gel and a wholesale hypermarket in Parque Avellaneda that did not respect the maximum prices and refused to correct them (it only did so the next day).
In Salta, AFIP inspectors closed 2 pharmacies for abusive prices on ethyl alcohol and gel alcohol. In Chaco, one pharmacy that sold chinstrap and gel alcohol at excessive prices was also closed.
In Catamarca, 3 establishments were closed: a supermarket and two supermarkets that did not respect the maximum reference prices and did not agree to correct them. In Neuquén, 1 self-service was closed for an excessive price and the same store closed its five branches until the prices were rolled back in accordance with the regulations.
The lists of products and prices were prepared by the Ministry of Internal Trade of the Ministry of Productive Development establish seven items to be surveyed during the controls: 1) warehouse, 2) cleaning, 3) perfumery, 4) baby items, 5) drinks, 6) dairy and 7) hygiene and care items.
Find out the latest on digital economy, startups, fintech, corporate innovation and blockchain. CLICK HERE
Corresponsal de Argentina, Encargado de seleccionar las noticias más relevantes de su interés a nuestro sitio web NewsPer.com
