Meat and Milk Board: We are conducting balanced imports to prevent price increases

CHP MP Özgür Karabat recently claimed that rent-seeking was taking place through imported meat at the Meat and Milk Board and that the institution was being caused to suffer losses. Following Karabat's allegations, the ESK issued a statement on its website. The statement, which noted that imports are being conducted in a balanced manner and in proportion to market needs to prevent manipulative price increases in the red meat markets, included the following remarks:

"This statement has become necessary due to the baseless and untrue allegations put forward by Istanbul MP Özgür Karabat regarding the market regulation activities that our institution carries out in a transparent manner. Our institution conducts imports in a balanced manner, in proportion to market needs, in order to prevent manipulative price increases in the red meat markets. As the ESK, we show sensitivity to protecting both the producer and the consumer with a price policy determined in line with farmer costs. All of our institution's purchases from abroad are carried out without the use of any intermediaries, by receiving offers from corporate slaughterhouses in the EU, in accordance with regulations, and through a tender process within the framework of competition and equal opportunity."

'NO PUBLIC LOSS IS IN QUESTION'

Stating that the most advantageous offers received from producers or unions and cooperatives are also evaluated in live animal purchases, the statement said, "Regarding the carcass meat and live animals for slaughter sold to the market, the procedures and principles for applications are published on our website, and all incoming applications are evaluated by a commission established for this purpose. The live animals or carcass meat offered for sale are sold to the applying firms in equal amounts and with advance payment. As a result of the sensitive evaluations made and the healthy processes carried out, there is no public loss in question."