26.04.2025 09:42
Following the earthquake that occurred in Istanbul, significant price increases were detected in items such as first aid kits and tents. The Ministry of Trade has intensified inspections and initiated investigations into 236 businesses.
Following the earthquake that occurred in Istanbul, inspections were carried out by the Ministry of Commerce teams regarding businesses selling items such as first aid kits, earthquake tents, and bags, due to complaints about exorbitant price increases.
ELECTRONIC MARKETS UNDER SCRUTINY
In a statement from the Ministry, it was noted that "complaints regarding exorbitant price increases for items such as first aid kits, earthquake tents, and bags have been brought to our attention following the earthquake that occurred in Istanbul. In this regard, our Ministry immediately took action, and inspections were conducted at businesses selling the mentioned products, primarily by our Istanbul Provincial Directorate, as well as by our provincial directorates in Ankara and Izmir. Additionally, extensive investigations have been initiated regarding sellers of earthquake relief materials in major electronic marketplaces, and urgent requests for information and documents have been made from businesses selling these products on e-commerce platforms, and the process has been initiated."
1,079 PRODUCTS UNDER SCRUTINY
It was reported that, based on the data collected, price increases were detected in 236 businesses for 1,079 products, including earthquake bags, first aid kits, and earthquake tents, and it was emphasized that analysis and examination studies regarding these businesses and products are ongoing. The statement added, "As a result of the final inspection, administrative fines of up to 1 million 439 thousand 300 TL may be imposed by the Unfair Price Assessment Board for each product sold by businesses found to be in violation of the first paragraph of Article 1 of the Law on the Regulation of Retail Trade No. 6585."
“INSPECTIONS REGARDING EXORBITANT PRICE INCREASES WILL CONTINUE”
As the Ministry of Commerce, we emphasize that we will continue our struggle to ensure a market order where fairness, transparency, and consumer-friendly practices are upheld, while also protecting the rights of our commercial enterprises that perform their duties properly; we remind once again that our inspections will continue against individuals and organizations that exploit societal sensitivity during disaster situations by making exorbitant price increases and victimizing our citizens.