Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Kittiratt Na Ranong has admitted that ready-to-eat meals cannot be placed on the government’s price control list due to a wide range of production costs among entrepreneurs. Mr. Kittiratt indicated during the Cabinet meeting today that it would be impossible to cap prices of ready-to-eat foods across the country at the same levels, reasoning that their prices are often determined by space rental fee, costs of ingredients and the level of services which vary from one operator to another.

Therefore, he suggested that it would be necessary to ask food vendors for cooperation in maintaining their prices, given prices of farm products have already begun to decline. According to the reports, the Cabinet has tasked Mr. Kittiratt and Commerce Minister Boonsong Teriyapirom to jointly conduct a feasibility study on food prices and develop controlling measures, taking into account all factors involved. The result will be submitted to the Cabinet for consideration at its next mobile meeting in Kanchanaburi province. Ready-to-eat meals not to come under price control : National News Bureau of Thailand