Hanoi (VNA) – The prices of pork and face masks were the centre of discussionat an extraordinary meeting of the steering committee for pricing on January 31under the chair of its head, Deputy Prime Minister Vuong Dinh Hue.

Opening the meeting, Deputy PM Hue said the outbreak of acuterespiratory disease caused by the new coronavirus (nCoV) would have greatimpacts on the world economy and prices, and Vietnam is certain to be affected.

He noted that goods supplies were abundant during the traditional NewYear holiday, but the CPI of January posted a high increase of 1.23 percentfrom the previous month, due to pork prices staying at a high level, up 8.29percent from December 2019. He required relevant agencies to look into porkprices and report to the steering committee.

Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Do Thanh Hai said his ministry andrelevant agencies will inspect the production, supply and sale of pork.

According to Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development PhungDuc Tien, 19 provinces and centrally-run cities have become free from theAfrican swine fever (ASF), while 37 provinces reported that 85 percent of theircommunes have had no new outbreaks for 30 days.

The deputy minister said this is a favourable condition for firms andfarmers to resume raising pigs.

Representativesfrom Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City said there has been no pork shortage recently.However, livestock companies said they suffered from loss due to ASF, addingproduction costs are high so it is difficult for them to cut prices.

Regarding the surging prices of face masks and antiseptic solutions,deputy head of the Planning-Finance Department under the Health Minister LeThanh Cong said demand for those products has increased sharply amidst concernsabout the spread of the new coronavirus (nCoV). According to Cong, Vietnam has46 makers of face masks, but they depend on China for materials. He added thatthe companies are looking for material suppliers in Europe and other regions.

Deputy PM Hue instructed ministries to coordinate with businesses to stabilizeand reduce pork prices by 10 percent in February and following months.

“Ministries, agencies, particularly the Ministry of Industry and Trademust answer the Government why the pork prices remain at the current high leveldespite no shortage,” Hue said.

He also assigned the market management and financial inspection forces to intensify inspections and strictly punishthe illegal raising of face mask prices./.