Inspections continue in markets ahead of Ramadan

As the month of Ramadan approaches, Ministry of Trade teams have conducted intensive inspections in İzmir to protect consumers. The teams, which examined price increases in markets, wholesalers, and restaurants, imposed penalties on businesses found to be applying unfair and exorbitant prices.

İzmir Provincial Director of Trade Murtaza Çağrı Ergünen stated that the inspections are being carried out to protect the economic interests of consumers, saying, "We have tightened our measures against businesses that want to turn the increase in demand brought by the month of Ramadan into an opportunity. Both wholesalers and retailers are within the scope of the inspections. Notifications from our citizens regarding unfair price increases are also important. With our Ministry's Unfair Price Notification application, reports are received quickly and inspections are ensured."

FINES REACH MILLIONS

It was reported that administrative fines of up to 1 million 439 thousand 300 TL are imposed for each non-compliant transaction on businesses determined to have engaged in unfair price increases. Price tag inspections for iftar menus were also carried out in eateries and restaurants. An administrative fine of 3 thousand 166 TL is applied for each violation to businesses where practices contrary to the legislation are detected.

According to the statement made by the İzmir Provincial Directorate of Trade, more than 2 thousand 500 businesses were inspected in the first month of the year, approximately 70 thousand products were checked, and administrative fines exceeding a total of 2 million TL were issued. Authorities requested that citizens be sensitive to unfair price increases and submit their complaints via the Unfair Price Notification mobile application or the provincial directorate.

News Source: 12punto