Ministry of Trade imposes fines on companies

The Ministry of Trade has taken action against those engaging in exorbitant pricing and stockpiling in sectors such as automotive, real estate, and jewelry. Consequently, large administrative fines have been imposed on companies during inspections.

The statement included the following: "As the Ministry of Trade, our inspections, field studies, and legislative amendments continue meticulously to prevent acts of exorbitant pricing and stockpiling, and to end the grievances of our citizens in meeting their basic needs such as nutrition, housing, healthy living, and protection, which result from behaviors inconsistent with commercial ethics. Our central and provincial organizations, primarily our General Directorate of Internal Trade and our General Directorate of Consumer Protection and Market Surveillance, are working in coordination to ensure social welfare and to establish a fair market by preventing unfair profit-seeking activities."

AUTOMOTIVE, REAL ESTATE, AND JEWELRY SECTORS INSPECTED

Administrative sanctions were imposed on 42,127 natural and legal persons, primarily in the automotive, real estate, and jewelry sectors. Our General Directorate of Internal Trade has conducted inspections regarding stockpiling and exorbitant pricing, particularly in the automotive, real estate, and jewelry sectors, and has applied administrative sanctions. Within the scope of these efforts; as of June 19, 2024, for the years 2023 and 2024, a total of 162,773,129.00 TL in administrative fines has been imposed on the automotive sector, consisting of 51,930,000.00 TL under the 6-month/6,000-kilometer regulation, 89,769,614.00 TL regarding advertisement restrictions, and 21,073,515.00 TL related to authorization certificate regulations. Furthermore, within the scope of stockpiling activities in the automotive sector, 823 natural and legal persons were inspected between the same dates, and 285,505,988.00 TL in administrative fines were imposed on firms found to be in violation.

Within the scope of efforts directed at the real estate sector by our General Directorate of Internal Trade during the same period; 1,932 natural and legal persons were inspected, and a total of 107,610,682.00 TL in administrative fines was imposed on 1,447 firms found to be in violation. With the regulation coming into effect as of 2024, 310 firms in the jewelry sector were inspected, and 24,600,000.00 TL in administrative fines were imposed.

THOSE ENGAGING IN EXORBITANT PRICING COULD NOT ESCAPE FINES

As the Ministry of Trade, within the scope of our efforts against exorbitant pricing, which we focus on with sensitivity to ensure social welfare and peace, our General Directorate inspected 22,520 natural and legal persons in 2024 alone, and a total of 37,600 natural and legal persons were inspected, with 235,188,973.00 TL in administrative fines imposed for violations. In addition to sector-based inspections, our General Directorate of Internal Trade is conducting detailed monitoring of many product groups, primarily fresh fruits and vegetables, sales contrary to bread price tariffs, products needed due to the earthquake, and ready-mixed concrete. A total of 42,127 natural and legal persons were inspected on a product and sector basis, and administrative sanctions totaling 814,678,772.00 TL were imposed on 3,558 natural and legal persons found to be in violation.

INSPECTIONS CONTINUE

In line with the rights and interests of consumers, the Ministry of Trade has imposed a total of 1,267,446,715.00 TL in administrative fines on 10,306 natural and legal persons. Our Ministry of Trade General Directorate of Consumer Protection and Market Surveillance conducts inspections regarding contracts to which consumers are a party, primarily distance contracts, subscription contracts, contracts established outside the workplace, pre-paid (off-plan) housing sales, timeshare, package tours, banking services, unfair terms, and after-sales services.

In line with the work of our General Directorate of Consumer Protection and Market Surveillance, as of 2024, 467,378,278.00 TL in fines were imposed on 932 natural and legal persons for their violations, and between 2023 and June 11, 2024, a total of 1,267,446,715.00 TL in administrative fines was imposed on 10,306 natural and legal persons. The Advertising Board, the sole administrative body authorized to inspect commercial practices published in all media to ensure that the health, safety, and economic interests of our consumers are not harmed by commercial advertisements and unfair commercial practices, has concluded 9,687 files and imposed 107,333,510 TL in administrative fines.

TOYS AND CHILD CARE PRODUCTS

In order to ensure that consumer products under the responsibility of the Ministry of Trade, such as textiles, footwear, toys, stationery, child care and usage products, and detergents, are offered to the market safely, market surveillance and inspection activities are carried out with the principle of "zero tolerance for unsafe products." Through these activities, the rate of insecurity in the product groups under our responsibility has decreased from 32% in 2011 to 1.7%. In this context, 3,499 firms were inspected, and 11,913,407.00 TL in administrative fines were imposed.

As the Ministry of Trade, by accepting the peace and welfare of our citizens as our primary principle, thanks to the devoted work of our personnel, our General Directorates, primarily our Provincial Directorates of Trade in 81 provinces, and our Internal Trade units have imposed a total of 2,331,949,069.00 TL in administrative fines on 116,262 natural and legal persons from the beginning of 2023 to June 11, 2024, both in terms of establishing a regular functioning of our commercial life and protecting the rights of our citizens individually.

As the Ministry of Trade, we will continue our efforts with an uncompromising understanding to keep alive the commercial life that embodies the Ahi culture, and to establish a fair operation by using all the materials at our disposal to take steps that will protect the rights and interests of our consumers. Respectfully presented to the public."

News Source: 12punto