April 8, 2014

United Arab Emirates' Committee approves milk price hike of 15-50%

United Arab Emirates' Higher Committee for Consumer Protection (HCCP) carefully reviewed the reports submitted and approved the hikes by the three companies, who have lifted the prices of milk produced by 15-50% from April 1.

After being informed of the hike, some shoppers resorted to verbal abuse of staff working at the outlets selling these products, prompting them to display a photocopy of the HCCP's decision.

The list of products which was given the HCCP nod includes the Ultra High Temperature processed (UHT) milk produced by the National Food Products Company. The cost of four packs of this milk has shot up from AED14 to AED18 (US$3.81 to US$4.90), representing a 28% hike. The prices of long-life milk have been hiked by 30% from AED42 to AED55 (US$11 to US$15) for a carton containing 12 packs.

Milk produced by Al Ain Farms Company went up by 14-50%, while camel milk products produced by Camelicious Company have gone up by 33-50%.

An employee working at a Dubai-based grocery said that the price hike has affected a "lot of families".

The Ministry of Economy stated that the HCCP analyses each request given by suppliers for price hikes and takes a decision only after careful review.