Online delivery added to list of controlled services

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Online delivery added to list of controlled services

By THE NATION

 

 

The Cabinet has designated online deliveries as a controlled service, after a rise in their use during the Covid-19 crisis.

 

Online deliveries were among 50 products and services on the updated “controlled” list, drawn up in line with a Commerce Ministry proposal, said deputy government spokesperson Ratchada Thanadirek on Tuesday (June 30). The Cabinet approved the addition of one new product and an update for two existing products on the list, she added.

 

She explained that cars had been removed from the list, but trucks and motorcycles remain controlled products.

 

Moreover, the listing of online delivery services was updated to cover related services such as Grab, Kerry, and Food Panda.

 

Ratchada said the update was proposed after delivery services became increasingly popular during the Covid-19 lockdown. A proposal to control delivery services via the Consumer Protection Board had also been made.

 

The new product added to the “controlled” list was distillers’ dry grains with solubles (DDGS).

 

Ratchada said that imports of DDGS are increasing, since it can be used as an ingredient in animal feed.

 

“In short, it can be used in place of maize or other products produced inside the country. Importation of DDGS would impact the domestic maize market if the product was not controlled,” she explained.

 

The Cabinet also approved the removal of two more items from the controlled list – fabric softener and store rental services.

 

Source: https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30390560

 

-- © Copyright The Nation Thailand 2020-07-01

 

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Thailand to regulate online and food delivery services

 

FILE PHOTO: A food delivery man waits for his customer while carrying a plastic bag full of plastic bags with take-away lunch during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in Bangkok, Thailand, May 11, 2020. REUTERS/Athit Perawongmetha

 

BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thailand's cabinet on Tuesday approved measures to regulate food and online delivery services after customer complaints during the country's coronavirus lockdown, a senior government official said.

 

Food deliveries surged during the lockdown and in April Thailand's Trade Competition Commission warned that if food delivery platforms increased prices unfairly they could be fined.

 

"The COVID-19 outbreak has changed consumer behavior and more consumers are using these online services and there were complaints so control (of) prices is necessary," deputy government spokeswoman Ratchada Dhnadirek told reporters.

 

"There were complaints from consumers of online services about the price of food delivery," she said.

 

In April, the Office of Trade and Competition Commission secretary-general Somsak Kiatchailak said there had been complaints that food delivery platforms had increased their service fees for restaurants from 20% to rates of up to 40%. He did not name any companies.

 

The price control comes into force on July 4 and will be reviewed again in one year. The control list aims to prevent operators from setting unfair prices and other conditions.

 

Ratchada said, for example, that services like those provided by Grab and Kerry would be included on the price control list.

 

The companies did not immediately respond to Reuters request for comment.

 

(Reporting by Panarat Thepgumpanat and Chayut Setboonsarng. Editing by Jane Merriman)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-07-01

 

- Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you

- Follow Thaivisa on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

[John1012 730]

I use online services quite frequently, and find that Kerry is highly efficient and not costly. This industry is driven by service levels and cost to consumer. If costs spiral or service level drops, they lose business. There are many alternatives, albeit not as good as Kerry, but acceptable.. why does the government need to become involved in a purely commercial enterprise? 

[new2here 430]

I think there's room for some government regulations -- be that around issues of minimum service levels, rights to refunds etc in case of failures, etc.. On the pricing side, I tend to agree that so long as there is no monopoly or other cartel-style pricing climate, that the government really should stay out of the price-side of it.  While food delivery and overall delivery services (ie B2C) has massively expanded their reach, I'm not sure their impact reaches that of motor fuel, cooking fuel, cooking oil, rice and other items that have fairly strict pricing caps/controls on them.

[Emdog 4,832]

38 minutes ago, John1012 said:

I use online services quite frequently, and find that Kerry is highly efficient and not costly. This industry is driven by service levels and cost to consumer. If costs spiral or service level drops, they lose business. There are many alternatives, albeit not as good as Kerry, but acceptable.. why does the government need to become involved in a purely commercial enterprise? 

May I hazard a guess and say "because they are control freaks and see a possible means to extort money"?

[iamariva1957 368]

 Yes home delivery food services have become huge while charging large fees to the places that use them. Thet should be regulated... but by this government outfit? Sounds like someone figured out there is money to be made for why did they not see this 4 months ago when food panda started to clean up?  Now my question is why remove fabric softener from list?  5555

[Snackbar 527]

Can’t understand why the world has become so self obsessed and hypocritical, too busy or lazy to stop and prepare something to eat. Banging on about single use plastic, global warming and have the gaul to order of an ice coffee. 

[bluesofa 34,454]

31 minutes ago, John1012 said:

I use online services quite frequently, and find that Kerry is highly efficient and not costly. This industry is driven by service levels and cost to consumer. If costs spiral or service level drops, they lose business. There are many alternatives, albeit not as good as Kerry, but acceptable.. why does the government need to become involved in a purely commercial enterprise? 

It's just another opportunity for them to stick their oar in to everyday life.

The reality is by regulating it, like anything they claim to control it's just pointless bureaucratic waffle.

 

They couldn't organise a p!ss-up in a brewery - where else would you have a regulation stating a minimum amount of beer you must produce to be licensed? Unless to keep the couple of big companies in control and prevent competition.

[robblok 36,490]

4 minutes ago, Snackbar said:

Can’t understand why the world has become so self obsessed and hypocritical, too busy or lazy to stop and prepare something to eat. Banging on about single use plastic, global warming and have the gaul to order of an ice coffee. 

Says the guy with name snackbar 

 

I order some salads from Jones Salad every 2 days. Its too much planning to make all those salads myself. The rest of the food i make myself. Its easy and fast. If i were to make it myself I might save 50bt per day.. just not worth the hassle. 

[hotchilli 10,326]

1 hour ago, John1012 said:

I use online services quite frequently, and find that Kerry is highly efficient and not costly. This industry is driven by service levels and cost to consumer. If costs spiral or service level drops, they lose business. There are many alternatives, albeit not as good as Kerry, but acceptable.. why does the government need to become involved in a purely commercial enterprise? 

Exactly correct, with competition between delivery services the price & efficiency will dictate who gets what in the pecking order, customers will choose who they think best serves their needs.

The government should stay out of it and let a perfectly viable private business continue on it's own.

As soon as the government want to get involved with regulations the whole thing will become an overpriced fiasco.

[Nanaplaza666 619]

1 hour ago, John1012 said:

I use online services quite frequently, and find that Kerry is highly efficient and not costly. This industry is driven by service levels and cost to consumer. If costs spiral or service level drops, they lose business. There are many alternatives, albeit not as good as Kerry, but acceptable.. why does the government need to become involved in a purely commercial enterprise? 

Because there is money to be made . These services skyrocketed since the beginning of covid 19 so they want their peace of the pie . 

[LeamchabangLarry 579]

lol. these selfish dicks taking advantage of a crisis did it to them own damn selves. 

No hockey stick for you

[Jaybott 106]

while carrying a plastic bag full of plastic bags

 

How does this contribute to the trash pollution problem?

[5633572526 629]

Apparently they red to make up for a lot of lost brown envelopes over the lockdown 

Edited July 1 by 5633572526
Glitch

[Dumbastheycome 4,042]

When it comes to food delivery I can understand there  need be  some regulatory oversight! The  motorcycle taxi style with a plastic bag slung over a greasy handle with grubby gloves bar versus a purpose built enclosed container is one personal consideration.

When it comes  to  delivery /courier services in general the perception that unregulated market competition keeps costs down may be true but also open to "quality" issues.

Never have I had an item delivered  by Kerry have any delays or damage. Other deliveries  by what appear to be sub contractors in unmarked vehicles have been  late, lost  ,squashed  or dented. As a recipient consumer that involves the inconvenience of  refusal to accept, return at my own cost etc.

Without  knowing exactly what the applied regulations  are  to these "controlled services"  are but hoping they address my above concerns I find no real cause to assume some negatives of primary intent.