Lawmakers Call for Price-fixing Investigation 泡麵聯合漲價? 公平會監控物價防操控

Lawmakers point out that several instant noodle products have seen their prices increase by 11 percent and have demanded a price-fixing investigation.

Lawmakers are calling on the Fair Trade Commission to investigate price-fixing in the instant noodle industry after several well-known brands raised prices around the same time.
 

Yang Chiung-ying, Legislator (KMT): “Do you think raising the price from NT$53 to NT$59 -- a difference of over 10 percent -- is reasonable?”
May Lee, Chair, Fair Trade Commission: “Market prices vary a lot too. We haven't seen any evidence of price-fixing.”

The FTC says the instant noodle producers raised prices individually rather than collectively. Uni-President was the first to announce a price hike when it raised the price of one of its instant noodle products from NT$53 to NT$59 at the end of October. Convenience store chain Hi-Life, meanwhile, says it has been notified that Vedan will be raising the price of one of its instant noodle products by the same amount on Nov. 17. Both are hikes of 11 percent. Wei Lih hasn't made any price-related announcements, but analysts say the company won't be able to not follow suit.

Chen Ting-fei, Legislator (DPP): “Do you have the ability to investigate small-ticket items? ”
May Lee, Chair, Fair Trade Commission: “They have to jointly discuss the price situation. This wouldn't happen very often. If we want to accuse someone of collusion, we would need very concrete evidence.”

The FTC also addressed concerns about supermarket giants being formed with PX Mart's acquisition of RT-Mart and Carrefour's acquisition of Wellcome, saying it has not received any merger applications at this point.

Tsai Pi-ru, Legislator (TPP): “This is horizontal integration. If market share and sales meet the threshold as stipulated in Article 11 of the Fair Trade Act, the parties must file an application with the FTC. ”

May Lee, Chair, Fair Trade Commission: “We haven't received any applications. When we do, we will review the market share.”

The FTC also said merger applications are reviewed on the basis of market share, economic impact, and future price adjustments.

立委手拿各大品牌泡麵，說近期售價飆漲，而且漲幅驚人超過一成，要公平會調查是否有聯合行為。

國民黨立委楊瓊瓔質詢時指出:「你認為53元漲到59元，漲一成多這樣子是合理的嗎？」

公平會主委李鎂回應:「市面上的價格也非常的分歧，沒有看出是大家聯合一致說好要一起漲價。」

公平會表示，泡麵售價調漲只是個別廠商漲價行為，並無聯合行為。不過，10月底統一集團，旗下泡麵品牌「滿漢大餐」，已從率先開出漲價第一槍，從53元調漲到59元，漲幅超過11%，味丹集團旗下，泡麵品牌「味味一品」，根據超商通路萊爾富表示，已經接獲價格調漲訊息，將在11月17日調漲售價，從53元漲為59元，漲幅也超過一成。至於維力食品尚未公布泡麵售價調漲計畫，不過外界認為，旗下品牌「一度贊」恐怕在不久將來，也會跟進調漲。

民進黨立委陳亭妃表示:「小的物資呢？我看沒有一件查得到的。」

公平會主委李鎂回應:「它要聯合的，合在一起去討論價格的情況，本質上就會比較少，那我們要去認為有聯合行為，一定要有很具體的事證。」

至於近期全聯收購大潤發以及家樂福收購案，如果合併成功是否會影響末端物價，出現價格壟斷情況，公平會表示，尚未收到合併案申請通知，強調會密切觀察。

民眾黨立委蔡壁如指出，「水平的結合，它的市占率營業額，如果達到公平交易法的第11條所訂的門檻，需要主動跟公平會申報。」

李鎂表示:「此案子尚未進來，會依據結合的內容，當事人在市場的占有率。」

公平會表示，業者如果提出合併案申請，會依程序進行實質審查，包括市場占有率、對整體經濟影響利弊，以及是否會對未來定價調整，有不利的影響等。