Algeria submits price controls law to parliament

* Draft lets govt put price ceilings on all goods

* Law is response to high inflation

* Officials say have duty to protect consumers

By Hamid Ould Ahmed

ALGIERS, June 30 (Reuters) - Algeria's government has submitted to parliament a draft law that will allow it to set price controls on all consumer goods and services as part of a campaign to curb inflation, the trade minister said.

The planned price controls are the latest in a series of measures increasing the state's role in energy exporter Algeria's economy, where sharp rises in food prices have helped fuel strikes and public unrest.

The draft amendments to Algeria's competition law will widen the government's scope to set price ceilings and establish tougher penalties for traders who charge over that price, said Trade Minister Mustapha Benbada.

"Our goal is to secure control of the market in the area of production, import and retail without causing prejudice to the freedom of trade," he said on Tuesday when he presented the draft to parliament.