Watchdog seeks explanations for price hikes

THE CONSUMERS Association has met with the Agriculture Minister in an effort to combat what it claims are unjustified rises in the price of bread and meat on the island.

President of the Association, Petros Marcou, yesterday told the Mail: “We are concerned over the price increases observed prior to the introduction of the euro and before the commencement of dual pricing on September 1.”

He added that the price of lamb, chicken and pork has risen, along with bread and anything produced from wheat flour.

Marcou attributed the increase to the international price of wheat which has risen by an average of 17 per cent since January 1, and is set to continue to rise.

He did make it clear, however, that the price rises have nothing to do with the introduction of the euro.

Attending Tuesday’s meeting were various interested parties including several farming and supermarket organisations.

“In some cases, price increases are not justified if we look at the increase in the price of wheat and we have told Minister Fotis Fotiou that only properly substantiated increases will be accepted,” Marcou explained.

“We also asked the Minister to ensure that any financial assistance given to farmers and livestock owners is transferred to the consumer and suggested that in the next Agricultural Ministers Council meeting in Brussels, the issue of the status of the EU wheat trade is looked into. For example, quotas and import duties from third countries should be eliminated for the good of the consumer.”

Marcou added that supermarkets on the island last month signed a code of fair pricing in collaboration with the Finance Ministry and are obligated to abide by it.

“I am confident and optimistic that we can impose what is fair for the consumer.”

The Cyprus Mail is the only English-language daily newspaper published in Cyprus. It was established in 1945 and today, with its popular and widely-read website, the Cyprus Mail is among the most trusted news sites in Cyprus. The newspaper is not affiliated with any political parties and has always striven to maintain its independence. Over the past 70-plus years, the Cyprus Mail, with a small dedicated team, has covered momentous events in Cyprus’ modern history, chronicling the last gasps of British colonial rule, Cyprus’ truncated independence, the coup and Turkish invasion, and the decades of negotiations to stitch the divided island back together, plus a myriad of scandals, murders, and human interests stories that capture the island and its -people. Observers describe it as politically conservative.