TOKYO: The Japanese government is poised to expropriate unreasonably high-priced face masks to facilitate the domestic distribution of masks to ease their 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 "unjust profits" through resale at higher prices, informed sources said.

A recently revised law allows the government to carry out expropriation where a state of emergency is in place. Over the COVID-19 crisis, the government declared emergency for Tokyo and some other places April 7 and expanded the area nationwide April 16.

The government will investigate whether any logistics or retail companies are stockpiling masks in expectation of price rises.

If the government judges mask stockpiling "unjust," prefectural governments will be able to request the companies engaged in the practice to sell the masks or expropriate the products under Article 55 of the law.

The government will strengthen information gathering through the health and industry ministries and carry out on-site inspections to check mask inventories and procurement prices.

With the mask shortages showing little sign of abating, the government has called on companies outside the mask manufacturing industry, such as Sharp Corp. and Toyota Motor Corp., to produce masks.

But masks remain hard to obtain at retail stores. The government apparently hopes to stop mask stockpiling in the distribution chain through powerful measures.

Last month, the government introduced a ban on online resale of masks at higher prices under the law on emergency measures for stabilizing living conditions of the public.

Public attention to masks has increased further due to increases in coronavirus patients with grave symptoms and deaths.

"Securing stable mask supply is an important policy task," a government official said.

But it would be necessary for the government to clearly define "unjust profits" and "appropriate prices" before taking compulsory measures, pundits said.

JIJI Press