Directive No. 01/2002/CT-BTC of the Minister of Finance on stabilizing prices during the Tet holiday in the Year of the Horse

DIRECTIVE

OF THE MINISTER OF FINANCE

REGARDING STABILIZING PRICES DURING THE LUNAR NEW YEAR QUY MUI FESTIVAL

To stabilize prices during the Lunar New Year Festival of the Year of the Goat (Quý Mùi), the Minister of Finance requests the Directors of the Provincial Departments of Finance and Prices to organize and implement the following tasks:

1. Organize the monitoring of the situation regarding the preparation of goods supplies for the Lunar New Year Festival (rice, foodstuffs, candies, cookies, beer, wine, clothing, cultural products, and means of transportation...). On this basis, report to the People's Committee of the province or centrally governed city to ensure measures for smooth production and circulation, closely follow market trends and needs to promptly organize the supply of goods and services; At the same time, prepare plans to stockpile goods to ensure essential needs of the people, preventing sudden price fluctuations before, during, and after the Lunar New Year Festival, especially in areas recently affected by natural disasters, remote regions, and large cities.

2. Based on the management hierarchy at the local level, the Department of Finance and Prices shall promptly develop plans to submit to the People's Committee of the province or centrally governed city for consideration and determination of passenger transport fares within the city, bicycle parking fees, motorcycle parking fees, car parking fees, entrance fees for entertainment venues, historical sites, revolutionary sites, cultural works, scenic spots... particularly in major urban areas; implement the principle of applying a unified fee schedule for domestic and foreign visitors when visiting historical sites, revolutionary sites, cultural works, scenic spots.

3. Coordinate with relevant sectors (market management, taxation, customs, public security...) to inspect counterfeit goods and goods evading taxes, handle violations resolutely to protect consumer interests; coordinate with the Department of Transport and Market Management to inspect the implementation of passenger transport fares at bus stations, railway stations, bicycle parking fees, motorcycle parking fees, car parking fees... to prevent arbitrary price increases.

4. Strengthen inspections of price postings at sales points and service providers; sell goods and provide services according to posted prices, paying attention to prevent businesses and individuals from exploiting the Lunar New Year period to increase prices, thereby harming consumer interests. Resolutely deal with administrative violations related to pricing in accordance with the provisions of Government Decree No. 44/2002/NĐ-CP dated September 1, 2000, and Circular No. 04/2000/TT-BVGCP dated November 15, 2000 issued by the Government Price Control Board.

5. Continuously monitor market price movements, promptly identify sudden price increases in certain goods and services, propose stabilization measures to be submitted to the Chairman of the People's Committee of the province or centrally governed city for resolution; simultaneously report to the Ministry of Finance. The reporting system for market prices during the Lunar New Year Festival is as follows:

- From January 15, 2003, in regular reports sent by the Provincial Departments of Finance and Prices to the Government Price Control Board, additional content on the preparation of goods for the Lunar New Year Festival and the assessment of local supply capacity, especially prices of glutinous rice, fragrant white rice, pork, chicken, fish, tobacco, candies, cookies, processed foods (sausage, sticky rice cake, preserved meat...), fruits, and some service prices such as clothing repair, bicycle parking, motorcycle parking, car parking, passenger transport fares... must be included.

- From January 25, 2002 (excluding Lunar New Year holidays), the Provincial Departments of Finance and Prices in Lang Son, Quang Ninh, Hai Phong, Hanoi, Nghe An, Thua Thien Hue, Da Nang, Khanh Hoa, Ho Chi Minh City, Can Tho, Dong Nai, Ba Ria-Vung Tau are required to regularly collect information on market prices and implement a daily rapid reporting system to the Government Price Control Board.

6. After the Lunar New Year Festival (before February 10, 2003), the Provincial Departments of Finance and Prices are requested to submit reports evaluating market price conditions before, during, and after the Lunar New Year Festival to the Government Price Control Board for timely reporting to the Ministry of Finance and the Prime Minister.

7. The Government Price Control Board is responsible for continuously monitoring market price fluctuations during the Lunar New Year Festival and promptly compiling reports to the Ministry of Finance to report to the Prime Minister on market price conditions before, during, and after the Lunar New Year Festival.