Group representing Coke, Clorox, other brands urges Attorney General Barr to fight coronavirus price gouging

The Food and Drug Administration has said it is monitoring the market for any products that make fraudulent coronavirus prevention and treatment claims. The agency said it would issue “warning letters, seizures or injunctions against products on the market that are not in compliance with the law.”

State attorneys general, including those in Pennsylvania and Texas, have announced price-gouging protections. New York Mayor Bill de Blasio and New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said on Sunday that authorities have fined retailer Scheman Grant Hardware for jacking up prices of disinfecting sprays, wipes and hand sanitizer.

But Zumwalt of the CBA urged national coordination. 

“Given the rapid pace with which COVID-19 is spreading and the nationwide prevalence of price gouging, it is vital that the federal government play a role in these efforts,” he wrote.

“Accordingly, we urge DOJ to coordinate with state attorneys general to ensure a swift, effective and unified national response to price gouging,” Zumwalt wrote. 

Amazon said Friday that it has removed hundreds of thousands of “high-priced offers” and suspended thousands of sellers who have engaged in price gouging on its marketplace.

— CNBC’s Annie Palmer contributed to this report.

WATCH: Price gouging on Amazon on coronavirus-related goods

Article source: https://www.cnbc.com/2020/03/09/coronavirus-coke-clorox-other-brands-urge-attorney-general-barr-to-fight-price-gouging.html