Canberra, Jan 8 (TIWN) Australian retailers who hike prices of Covid-19 test kits will face prison time and fines under a new law.

The federal government on Saturday listed rapid antigen test (RAT) kits for Covid-19 on Australia's biosecurity determination, making price gouging on the product illegal, reports Xinhua news agency.  In a statement, Health Minister Greg Hunt and Home Affairs Minister Karen Andrews said exporting RATs from Australia has also been banned 'unless a valid exception applies'.  'These measures are consistent with those implemented for masks and other personal protective equipment in March 2020,' they said.  'These measures will prevent people who have purchased RAT's at retail settings to on-sell them at extortionate prices, which is assessed at more than 120 percent more than the price for which they were purchased.'