jordan pulse -
The National Association for Consumer Protection welcomed the decision of the Minister of Industry, Trade, and Supply to set price ceilings for broiler chicken at 170 piasters per consumer after the selling prices rose excessively and did not reflect the real cost of production at this time of year.
Dr. Mohammad Obaidat, the head of the association, demanded that price ceilings be set for fresh chicken, similar to broiler chicken, due to its exaggerated price increase, where one kilogram is sold between 240 and 260 piasters, which is an excessive price. Dr. Obaidat said that setting price ceilings for broiler chicken and excluding fresh chicken gave the opportunity for the owners of large companies and distributors to dominate and control the market and impose high prices for this essential commodity that cannot be dispensed with on Jordanian tables. Dr. Obaidat addressed the issue of small farmers who suffer from the dominance and control of large companies over this commodity, as they are threatened with exiting the market due to their inability to confront the encroachment of these large companies, thus losing their source of livelihood. Dr. Obaidat added that in recent days, we have received complaints divided into two parts: the first part relates to the successive increases in the price of fresh chicken after setting price ceilings for broiler chicken, resulting from the closure of broiler chicken shops in major cities due to distributors’ price exaggeration, forcing them to buy at 180 piasters while the price ceiling is 170 piasters, meaning selling at a loss. This situation was exploited by farm owners and fresh chicken distributors to raise prices, and the final victim is the Jordanian consumer who can no longer cope with the repeated increases in the price of basic goods and services. The second part of the complaints is the non-compliance of broiler chicken shops in the suburbs, villages, and remote areas with the price ceilings set by the ministry, where one kilogram is sold for two dinars, and also this is a high price that citizens in these areas cannot afford to buy, especially since most of them are from the poor class. Dr. Obaidat called for the formation of a committee that includes all parties of the process: the Ministry of Industry, Trade, and Supply, the Ministry of Agriculture, the National Association for Consumer Protection, poultry producers, and the General Customs Department to study this situation and know the prices of feed in the global exchanges and what are the real costs of producing this essential commodity at all times of the year. Dr. Obaidat also pointed out the issue of exporting chicks to neighboring countries, which has significantly contributed to depriving the local market of the availability of this essential commodity, causing a clear imbalance in the required quantities and the quantities offered due to the export abroad by large companies that have become dominant in the market. He demanded a halt to the export of this essential commodity as the local market needs it.