IACM to roll out one-off wholesaling

Other opinions detailed in the consultation report include the suggestion that the government should further regulate fresh food prices in the wholesale market. The Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau’s executive committee president, Alex Vong, said that the Bureau has also received opinions saying that businesses cannot operate in the wholesale market due to a lack of space. He said that, after discussion with the industry, the government is considering rolling out a one-off wholesaling mechanism. The mechanism would allow businesses that want to participate in wholesaling in Macau, but do not own a stall in the wholesale market, to have their fresh produce quarantined like other regular wholesalers. Vong believes that this will increase the supply of vegetables to Macau, and eventually lower their prices.  The president stressed that the same quarantine procedure would be implemented on both one-off and regular wholesalers. They are also required to make their transaction within the wholesale market.  In addition, Vong predicts that the construction of the new three-story-tall wholesale market will finish in 2017, and will attract new wholesalers to join the market.