TOILET paper, local and imported tea, diapers, bath soap, toothpaste, toothbrushes, cane knives and roofing sheets are among 24 new items that could soon come under price control regulations.
This Prices and Incomes Board announced yesterday it had Finance Ministry approval to carry out the exercise.
The PIB now has to go through a two-week process which includes seeking public feedback.
"The Government, through the PIB, is concerned with the general trend of price disparities hence the need to intervene and assist consumer demand through price control," a PIB statement said.
"This decision took into account the rising cost of imported goods, the impact of the global financial crisis and the devaluation of the dollar."
An Intention Notice published in the latest Government gazette will give the public 14 days to respond.
The list includes imported preparations for making beverages such as Ovaltine, Cocoa and Milo, imported rolled oats and Weetbix, local and imported tea, imported yeast, local and imported baking soda, local and imported medicated bathing soap, local and imported toilet paper, local and imported laundry soap, local and imported soap powder, imported sanitary pads, mosquito coils, digging forks, spades, post-xhole spades, cane knives, knapsack spray, files, barbed wire and roofing sheets.
The proposed import mark up percentages are between zero and 5 per cent, 2 to 4 per cent for wholesales and 10 per cent for retails.
"This is an interim measure - eight months effective from the date of implementation upon which time can be subject to review," the PIB said.
The announcement came moments after the Reserve Bank released its quarterly review, which revealed the September inflation rate of 6.3 per cent, was an increase of 5.1 per cent from August.
Inflation for the end of the year is estimated at 9.5 per cent.
