Currently, the situation of the Covid-19 epidemic is very complicated, many people have taken advantage of the Covid-19 situation to collect goods and increase the price of medical masks, which have been increased by 3, 5 times compared to the current price. So how is this case handled according to Vietnam’s regulations?
Article table of contents
Pursuant to Article 31 of Decree No. 98/2020/NĐ-CP of Vietnam’s Government, administrative penalties for taking advantage of the scarcity or faking scarcity to buy in large quantities and stockpile goods for re-selling and obtaining illegal profit are specified as follows:
- A fine ranging from VND 5.000.000 to VND 10.000.000 shall be imposed for taking advantage of the scarcity or faking scarcity to buy in large quantities and stockpile goods worth from VND 50.000.000 to under VND 100.000.000 for re-selling and obtaining illegal profit in any of the following cases, if not liable to criminal prosecution:
+ Goods are from a price stabilization scheme or priced by the State in accordance with regulations of the Pricing Law;
+ There are changes in demand and supply or prices of goods on the market during disaster, conflagration, epidemic, war or another force majeure event.
- A fine ranging from VND 10.000.000 to VND 20.000.000 shall be imposed for the violation in Clause 1 of this Article if the value of goods is from VND 100.000.000 to under VND 200.000.000.
- A fine ranging from VND 20.000.000 to VND 50.000.000 shall be imposed for the violation in Clause 1 of this Article if the value of goods is from VND 200.000.000 to under VND 500.000.000.
- A fine ranging from VND 50.000.000 to VND 80.000.000 shall be imposed for the violation in Clause 1 of this Article if the value of goods is from VND 500.000.000 to under VND 1.000.000.000.
- A fine ranging from VND 80.000.000 to VND 100.000.000 shall be imposed for the violation in Clause 1 of this Article if the value of goods is VND 1.000.000.000 or more.
Concurrently, the person who takes advantage of the scarcity or faking scarcity to buy in large quantities and stockpile goods for re-selling and obtaining illegal profit shall:
- Have the exhibits of the administrative violations confiscated;
- Have the certificate of eligibility to do business, business license or practicing certificate shall be suspended for a fixed period of 06 - 12 months if the violation is repeated or re-committed;
- Business operations shall be suspended for a fixed period of 06 – 12 months if the violation is repeated or re-committed.
Thus, according to the above provisions, from October 15, 2020, anyone who takes advantage of the volatile market because of the Covid-19 epidemic to collect and increase the price of medical masks and re-sell them at 3, 5 times higher than the current price shall be fined up to VND 100 million if the value of medical masks is VND 1.000.000.000 or more.
It can be seen that wearing a mask is a necessity for everyone in the prevention of the current Covid-19 epidemic situation. Therefore, to meet the demand to buy masks to prevent and prevent the Covid-19 epidemic and avoid the sanction for the act of collecting medical masks during the epidemic situation, individuals and organizations producing and trading masks should strictly comply with the law and sell masks at reasonable prices to jointly prevent the Covid-19 epidemic.
Ty Na
- Key word:
- Decree No. 98/2020/NĐ-CP
