Government Tightens Control of Goods and Gold Scales During Chinese New Year, Warns of Severe Penalties

The government is implementing strict controls on product prices and gold scales during Chinese New Year. On February 14, 2026, Deputy Government Spokesperson Lalida Pheriswiwattana announced that the Ministry of Commerce's Department of Internal Trade is closely monitoring pricing and trade fairness, especially in key commercial areas like Yaowarat in Bangkok's Samphanthawong District. The department conducted comprehensive checks, inspecting over 1,200 business establishments and 1,400 digital scales. Most businesses cooperated by clearly displaying prices and using standardized scales. Overall, product prices for festival essentials like pork, eggs, dried foods, fresh vegetables, and fruits have generally decreased compared to previous years. The government warns that violations will result in significant penalties: failing to display prices can incur fines up to 10,000 baht, price gouging can lead to up to 7 years in prison or 140,000 baht in fines, and using inaccurate or modified scales can result in up to 7 years imprisonment or 280,000 baht in fines. Consumers can report violations by calling the Department of Internal Trade's hotline at 1569.