BEIJING, Jan. 3 (Xinhua) -- A market official in Beijing has warned local merchants against launching sales promotion for grain and other necessities of life amid concerns about social stability.

    "All promotion activities, in discounts or coupons, are not allowed to involve grain, edible oil, salt, meat, eggs and other necessities of life, so as to prevent panic buying and maintain social stability," said Wang Jianhua, deputy director of the Beijing Municipal Bureau for Industry and Commerce.

    Wang made the remarks when the citizens are bracing for a New Year holiday running from Jan. 1 to Jan. 3. Holidays and festivals are usually an important period for merchants to promote sales of their commodities through offering very luring discounts and coupons, which can easily lead to panic buying.

    Chinese people will greet their traditional Lunar New Year, or Spring Festival, next month and then will enjoy a week-long holiday starting Feb. 18.

    Wang said the bureau will strengthen supervision over the sales promotion activities at local markets to crack down on malpractice during holidays.

    To date, no cases of sales promotion for grain and the like have been found in the city, he said.