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The increase in the price of beef is not yet official or generalized throughout the country, but the Government is beginning to consider measures. If this “abusive” increase persists, the authorities consider selling the product directly to the consumer “at a lower price”, through the Food Production Support Company (Emapa).
“The Government has the decision to meet the demand of the domestic market, the supply of meat will be guaranteed throughout the country and the fair price will be guaranteed,” said the Deputy Minister of Consumer Defense and Justice, Jorge Silva, in Unitel.
“If this attitude is insisted, which we understand is an attack against the economy of Bolivian families, Emapa will have to intervene to enable all the points of sale it has, sell the meat directly to the consumer, and even at a lower price , because you would already be avoiding the profit generated by the intermediary “.
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As detailed by the authority, so far only some price increases have been registered in places like Santa Cruz, Cochabamba and Tarija, but the resolution of the national extension is awaited to analyze the steps to follow.
“You have to look at the political background, there is no other, because we do not understand another technical, economic reason that can justify this price increase. You have to see who are there, who are the owners of these companies that export, and who will have to be seen. the leaders who are promoting this unilateral increase respond, “he said.
“We are going to wait for what they resolve today in Cochabamba and based on those resolutions we will approach the leaders to reach agreements.”
Last week, Santa Cruz meat marketers announced their intention to increase the price to the final consumer, given that they would be receiving the product at a higher cost. The sellers presented among their arguments to export and smuggling, two arguments that were refuted by Silva.
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“It is a totally abusive way to try to raise the price of meat, since there is no valid reason. The pretext of exports does not make sense because yesterday the approved quota for meat exports was met, In other words, starting today, not a single kilo of meat should go abroad. (…) And on the issue of smuggling, the vice minister for the fight against smuggling has promised to carry out operations in order to detect any mobilization of live cattle that may be coming out, “Silva said.
This Tuesday starting at 10:00 a national extension will be held in Cochabamba of all the retail and wholesale butchers in Bolivia. There they will discuss an eventual increase of three Bolivians throughout the country.
