Prices of baby milk have continued to increase by 10-20 percent despite government subsidies implemented 8 months ago. Ali Basamah, owner of an importing company said companies outside the Kingdom are increasing their prices and local companies have implemented the subsidy of SR12 per kilogram, Al-Madina reported Wednesday. Pharmacist Ahmad Hamid said the prices have increased differently with different brands of baby milk. Prices of products like Promil Gold have increased by 20 percent from SR22 to SR28. Several other baby milk products increased in price such as Nan which increased from SR21 to SR27, and Similac Advance increased from SR21 to SR26. He said the 12 other baby milk products have increased prices similarly. Several people have said a lack of government oversight is to blame for the increasing prices. Badr Bin Sa'eed said the government should impose penalties to keep companies from manipulating the prices. Mohammad Al-Hamad, head of the Consumer Protection Committee, said his committee still has not started to operate. The committee will begin after the summer vacation when the Committee receives its financial support.
