Association for Protection of Consumers calls for National Food Office

The Association for the Protection of Consumers called on the trade minister to take a set of measures meant to improve the situation of Algeria’s consumers. It suggested establishing a national office of food.

• M. Hariz told Echorouk it is necessary to boost the National Council for Competition to stop operators who control more than 45 percent of food share. “It is illegal because competition law does not allow to control more than this rate. Because of that, the Council needs to be reactivated.”

  He believes that the creation of the National Food Office would enable to control prices when there is shortage. It would store food and market it at reasonable prices when there is shortage.

  He also talked about breaking monopoly. He called for implementing measures to end the phenomenon. “We got out from the State’s monopoly to individuals’ one. Because of that, the State should impose its conditions on economic operators to ensure prices stability.”
  

  “It is the straw which broke the camel’s back because prices have been always high. Yet, largely-consumed products were touched,” he added.

  The association asked the minister to take sustainable measures and avoid temporary solutions.