A maximum fine of 5 million yuan for manipulating the price of drugs and medical devices
Those who commit price fraud may be fined up to 500,000 yuan; Those who fabricate or spread information about price increases, bid up prices, hoard goods and push commodity prices up too fast or too high may be fined up to 3 million yuan; Those who collude with each other to manipulate market prices and cause a relatively large increase in commodity prices may be fined up to 5 million yuan. Those suspected of committing crimes will be transferred to judicial organs.
The notice is as follows:
On December 7, the Market Supervision Administration of Guangdong Province issued a circular on regulating the price behavior of drugs and medical devices in Guangdong Province:
In order to maintain market price order, ensure stable price order in the market of drugs and medical devices, and protect the legitimate rights and interests of consumers, the Market Supervision Administration of Guangdong Province issued the following circular to drug and medical device operators and relevant units in the province on December 7, 2022:
First, strictly abide by the Price Laws and Regulations such as the Price Law of the people’s Republic of China, the Measures of Guangdong Province for the Implementation of the Price Law of the people’s Republic of China, the Provisions on Explicit Pricing and the Prohibition of Price Fraud, and enhance the sense of social responsibility, standardize price behavior.
Second, establish and improve the internal price management system, accurately record and verify the production and operation costs, the sales prices of drugs and medical devices such as Lianhua Qingwen, antiviral oral liquid, Ganmaoling, antigen detection kit and other drugs and medical devices shall not be raised without a significant increase in production and operating costs.
Third, the effective implementation of the price indication system, so as to achieve true and accurate, goods signed in the right place, the logo eye-catching. The sale of drugs or medical devices through the Internet and other means, should be through the network page, in text, images and other ways to mark the price clearly. Goods shall not be sold at a higher price than the listed price and shall not be charged any fees not indicated.
Fourth，in accordance with the principles of openness, fairness, honesty and credit, it is not allowed to fabricate or disseminate price increase information, hoard, bid up prices, and promote commodity prices to rise too high; they shall not collude with each other to manipulate market prices, harm the legitimate rights and interests of other business operators or consumers.
Fifth，According to the “Price Law” and the “Provisions on Administrative Punishment for Price Violations” and other laws and regulations, business operators who violate the provisions of clearly marking price shall be ordered to correct, their illegal income shall be confiscated, and a fine of less than 5,000 yuan may be imposed. Those who commit price fraud may be fined up to 500,000 yuan; Those who fabricate or spread information about price increases, bid up prices, hoard goods and push commodity prices up too fast or too high may be fined up to 3 million yuan; Those who collude with each other to manipulate market prices and cause a relatively large increase in commodity prices may be fined up to 5 million yuan. Those suspected of committing crimes will be transferred to judicial organs.
If consumers find suspected price violations, please keep relevant evidence and call the hotline 12315 and 12345 to report in time. The market supervision department will carry out verification and treatment according to law. If consumers find suspected price violations, please keep relevant evidence and call the hotline 12315 and 12345 to report in time. The market supervision department will carry out verification and treatment according to law.
By People’s Daily client
Translated & edited by Bradyknows
