Japan to seize high-priced masks from unscrupulous sellers

Apr 27, 2020 | News On Japan

Apr 27, 2020 (Japan Times) - The government is poised to expropriate unreasonably high-priced face masks for domestic distribution to ease shortages amid the coronavirus outbreak, Jiji Press learned Saturday.

The compulsory measure is expected to be taken as the government enhances crackdowns on unscrupulous mask sellers making so-called â€œunjust profitsâ€ through resale at increased prices, sources said.

A recently revised law allows the government to carry out expropriations where a state of emergency is in place. The government declared such an emergency for Tokyo and various other areas in response to the COVID-19 crisis on April 7, expanding the measure to cover the entire nation on April 16.

The government will investigate whether any companies and other entities are stockpiling masks in expectation of price increases.

If the government judges such practices as â€œunjust,â€ prefectural governments will be able to request that the companies sell the masks or expropriate them under Article 55 of the law.

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