16.06.2026 09:30
The Ministry of Trade announced that a total fine of 10,114,595 lira was imposed on markets operating in Istanbul due to excessive price increases in the white meat market.
The Ministry of Trade's Unfair Price Assessment Board held its 49th meeting. The board decided to impose administrative sanctions against excessive price practices in the white meat market.
The statement made by the Ministry of Trade included the following expressions:
“As the Ministry of Trade, our inspection activities are carried out decisively to protect the economic interests of our citizens, maintain a fair and competitive trade environment in the domestic market, and prevent excessive price practices. In this context, as a result of comprehensive inspections and audits conducted by the inspectors of our Ministry of Trade in previous years regarding the white meat sector, administrative sanctions were imposed by the Unfair Price Assessment Board on numerous businesses.
THEY SEIZED THE INCREASE IN CONSUMER DEMAND AS AN OPPORTUNITY
To prevent practices aimed at exploiting the increase in consumer demand for white meat with the arrival of the summer season as an opportunity, comprehensive inspection and audit activities have been reinitiated across the sector. The findings obtained from field inspections carried out by the inspection teams of the Istanbul Provincial Directorate of the Ministry of Trade were evaluated at the 49th meeting of the Unfair Price Assessment Board held today.
10 MILLION FINE FOR MARKETS IN ISTANBUL
As a result of the evaluations, it was decided to impose a total administrative fine of 10 million 114 thousand 595 Turkish Lira on market businesses operating in Istanbul, both at national and local scales, which were found to have engaged in excessive price increases. As the Ministry of Trade, we will continue to closely monitor abnormal price movements at all stages of the supply chain from production to consumption and decisively implement necessary administrative measures to ensure our citizens' access to basic food products at reasonable prices.”
AN 'UNFAIR PRICE' OPERATION WAS CONDUCTED IN THE WHITE MEAT SECTOR
Under the coordination of the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, in line with the determinations of the Competition Board and the Ministry of Trade, a large-scale investigation was launched against companies in the chicken meat sector that hinder competition and engage in unfair price increases. In the process carried out in coordination with the Ministries of Justice, Interior, Trade, and Treasury and Finance, simultaneous operations were organized in many provinces centered in Istanbul to ensure citizens can access basic food under reasonable conditions.
SUPERVISORY RECEIVERS WERE APPOINTED FOR 13 MAJOR COMPANIES
Within the scope of the investigation, details of which were shared with the public by Justice Minister Akın Gürlek, a 'supervisory receiver' was appointed to 13 leading companies in the sector to conduct a preliminary compliance audit. While the management's executive authority continued, important decisions were subject to receiver approval. The major companies appointed with receivers and recorded as suspects included the following:
- Balıkesir: Banvit and Bupiliç
- Bolu: Akpiliç and Erpiliç
- Uşak: Gedik Tavukçuluk
- Samsun: Ay-Pi Tavukçuluk
- İzmir: Lezita Gıda
- Ankara: AS Ofis Damızlık Yumurta A.Ş. and Bakpiliç Entegre Tavukçuluk A.Ş.
- Istanbul: Şenpiliç Gıda San. A.Ş. and Orvital Organik Gıda
SENIOR EXECUTIVES WERE RELEASED UNDER JUDICIAL CONTROL
Within the scope of the investigation, detention orders were issued for 32 people, including the CEO of Banvit, the Chairmen of the Boards of Akpiliç and Aspiliç, and senior executives of companies such as Erpiliç, Gedik, and Lezita. 29 suspects detained during the raids were released under judicial control with a 'travel ban abroad' imposed by the court after their statements at the police station.