10.02.2025 09:51
The Ministry of Trade's Unfair Price Assessment Board imposed a fine of 126.7 million TL in its first meeting of 2025 against exorbitant price increases in various sectors. Inspections were conducted in many areas, including fire safety equipment, services of private schools, and chain supermarkets.
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The Ministry of Trade's Unfair Price Assessment Board imposed a total fine of 126.7 million TL for inspections conducted during the first meeting of 2025.
In a statement from the Ministry of Trade, it was emphasized that the fire disaster that occurred in Bolu Kartalkaya on January 21 deeply saddened everyone, stating, "Such tragic events are the most sensitive moments when we need to be united as a society and should not be open to exploitation in any way. However, following such a painful process, complaints regarding exorbitant price increases for fire safety equipment, especially on e-commerce platforms and various sales channels, have been brought to the attention of our Ministry. In this regard, our Ministry has immediately taken action, and extensive investigations have been initiated regarding the relevant electronic marketplaces and local sales points. Urgent requests for information and documents have been made to businesses selling these products on electronic marketplaces, and necessary inspections have been carried out by our provincial trade directorates in the field to ensure the follow-up of the process," it was stated.
A FINE OF 7.7 MILLION TL WAS IMPOSED IN THE FIRE EXTINGUISHERS AND EQUIPMENT SECTOR
In the statement, it was emphasized that as a result of the information and inspection results obtained within the scope of the investigation, it was decided to impose an administrative fine of 7 million 696 thousand 810 TL on businesses deemed to have increased prices excessively for fire safety equipment. It was also stated, "Furthermore, following the transfer of the studies conducted by the Ministry of National Education to our Ministry, exorbitant price increases for goods and services provided by private educational institutions have been taken under review within the authority of the Unfair Price Assessment Board. In this context, comprehensive inspection activities have been carried out by our Ministry's inspectors under the provisions of Law No. 6585 on the Regulation of Retail Trade and relevant legislation to determine whether exorbitant price increases have been applied in the basic services of private schools such as tutoring, meals, books-stationery, and clothing."
A FINE OF 66.2 MILLION TL WAS IMPOSED ON PRIVATE SCHOOLS, TUTORING, BOOKS, AND CLOTHING SECTOR
As a result of the investigations, it was noted that private educational institutions that applied the highest price increases, especially in tutoring, meals, books-stationery, and clothing fees, as well as schools with a widespread educational network across the country, were subjected to detailed evaluation by the Unfair Price Assessment Board. In this context, it was decided to impose an administrative fine of 66 million 207 thousand 800 TL on the relevant private school operators who caused unfair profits and victimized our citizens. During this process, all necessary administrative measures have been taken to establish a fair and transparent pricing policy in educational services, to address the grievances of our parents, and to combat any unfair practices and opportunistic approaches that may be encountered in our education system.
A FINE OF 52.8 MILLION TL FOR CHAIN AND LOCAL MARKETS
Finally, the statement included the following information: On the other hand, as part of the inspections carried out by our Ministry, a wide range of businesses, from bakeries selling bread contrary to the tariff to butchers selling at exorbitant prices, national and local chain markets, and other retail businesses operating in the retail trade sector, have been subjected to fines. The Board decided to impose an administrative fine of 52 million 824 thousand 640 TL on businesses that acted contrary to the legislation. In total, as a result of the decisions made by the Ministry of Trade's Unfair Price Assessment Board during the first meeting of 2025, it was decided to impose a total administrative fine of 126.7 million TL on businesses that increased prices excessively.
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