Taipei Prosecutors Office Conducts Inter-Agency Investigation into Supply and Demand of Plastic Products to Prevent Illegal Hoarding and Price Gouging

The Taipei District Prosecutors Office (TDPO) announced in a press release that it continues to operate the "Platform for Investigating Civil Livelihood Crimes" under the direction of the Taiwan High Prosecutors Office. Today, it joined police, investigative, and administrative agencies to survey the market for daily necessities.

According to the press release, in Taipei City, TDPO Prosecutor Affairs Officer Xu Ruiping, along with the Taipei City Investigation Office of the Ministry of Justice Investigation Bureau, the Criminal Investigation Division of the Taipei City Police Department, Zhongzheng First Precinct, Taipei City Consumer Protection Officer, Market Administration Office, and Commerce Department, conducted on-site inspections of hardware stores, snack shops, and surrounding vendors in Chenggong Market, Zhongzheng District.

Vendors reported that upstream suppliers recently indicated a slight reduction in the supply of plastic red flower bags, heat-resistant bags, and paper bowl plastic lids, with a slight increase in procurement costs. However, the overall market transactions remained normal, and no abnormal situations such as deliberate hoarding, price gouging, or misleading labeling were found.

In New Taipei City, TDPO Prosecutor Affairs Officer Zhao Yiqing, along with the New Taipei City Investigation Office of the Investigation Bureau, the Criminal Investigation Division of the New Taipei City Police Department, Xindian Precinct, New Taipei City Economic Development Department, and Consumer Protection Officer, conducted on-site inspections of businesses around Jianguo Market in Xindian District.

Vendors stated that there was a shortage of small heat-resistant bags and vest bags. They will evaluate whether to restock based on future price changes and have posted notices in stores encouraging customers to bring their own shopping bags, but no significant abnormalities were observed.

TDPO stated that it will continue to conduct cross-regional joint on-site inspections to grasp the circulation and price changes of plastic products from the supply end to the retail end, and strengthen the intelligence integration and dynamic monitoring of the contact platform. Once human manipulation of supply and demand or abnormal price situations are discovered, it will immediately intervene to investigate and handle, ensuring the sound operation of market mechanisms and stabilizing the supply of civil livelihood materials and public confidence. (Edited by Xiao Bowen) 1150409