Ricardo Salazar, president of the Defensoría del Consumidor, said: "So far in the implementation of the economic relief measures, to date, about 60 businesses have been fined". The fines amount to more than US$240 thousand for speculation and unjustified price increases, as well as for hindering the institution's information and inspection work.

Salazar, leads the inspections procedure to guarantee fair prices to the population and to avoid maneuvers or artifices that derive in unjustified price increases. He also said: "There is no justification to increase prices of basic necessities, since gasoline prices are going down and this is the sixth consecutive fortnight of decrease in fuel prices".

Regarding market surveillance, the Defensoría del Consumidor, carried out 5 thousand 496 inspections, of which 89.70 % registered compliance with the provisions of the Consumer Protection Law and other legal and technical regulations verified, however, the Defensoría del Consumidor, highlighted 356 inspections with findings of expired products (55.89%); lack of information on the products sold, lack of information on the products sold, lack of information on the products sold, lack of information on the products sold and lack of information on the products sold. 89%); lack of information on promotions and offers with (12.09%) findings; non-compliance with obligations prior to e-commerce contracting with (6.44%) findings, lack of prices in sight with (5.81%) findings and product without expiration date with (4.24%) findings, among others.

The Consumer Protection Law (LPC) sanctions with three types of fines, which are as follows:

Fine for minor infractions Art. 45.- Minor infractions shall be sanctioned with a fine of up to fifty urban monthly minimum wages in the industry.

Fine for serious infringements Art. 46.- Serious infringements shall be sanctioned with a fine of up to two hundred urban monthly minimum wages in the industry.

Fine for very serious infringements Art. 47.- Very serious infringements shall be sanctioned with a fine of up to five hundred urban monthly minimum wages in the industry.

At the same time, the president of the Defensoría del Consumidor, called on merchants to maintain respectful practices of consumer rights, as well as to avoid overpricing and to attend the requirements and inspections of the institution. He also stressed the importance of reporting abuses and overpricing in stores through the WhatsApp of the Defensoría del Consumidor, 7844-1482.

Translated by: A.M