Ministry intervenes in exorbitant apricot prices at the Grand Bazaar: Business to face administrative fine

Apricot prices reflected on social media shocked those who saw them. While 1 kilo of apricots was being sold for exactly 2,680 liras, it emerged that producers were selling apricots to merchants at prices far below this.

The purchase price of a kilo of apricots from apricot production centers starts at 100 liras, but at the Grand Bazaar, this price is exactly 2,680 liras.

Following the inspection, the business that was penalized claimed that it purchased the apricots for 600 liras per kilo, but reports suggest that the prices were much lower.

MINISTRY OF TRADE TAKES ACTION

Following these reports, the Ministry of Trade went after a business in the Grand Bazaar selling dried apricots at the price of a gram of gold.

Deputy Minister of Trade Mahmut Gürcan announced that they had determined that apricots and derivative products were being sold for 2,680 liras at a business named Ş.S. Gürcan announced that the business would be fined between 100 thousand and 1 million liras.

In a statement made on his X account, Gürcan used the following expressions:

"Following the posts made on social media on 26.08.2024 regarding the sale of dried apricots for 2,800 TL at the Grand Bazaar, our Istanbul Provincial Directorate of Trade inspection teams conducted an exorbitant price and label inspection at the business named Ş.S. operating on Beyazıt Neighborhood/Grand Bazaar Street. During the inspection, it was observed that the product type 'Apricot', which was the subject of the complaint, was sold for 2,680 TL, and the purchase invoices for the product could not be presented to us. The business owner stated in his declaration that he bought the product for 600 TL.

'UNFAIR PRICE INCREASE' REPORT PREPARED

Due to the high difference between the declared purchase price and the sales price of the product, an 'Unfair Price Increase' report was prepared and sent to the Unfair Price Evaluation Board. As a result of the examination of the UPEB inspection results, an administrative fine of 100 thousand to 1 million liras will be imposed on the relevant business.

In addition, the situation regarding the inability to present the requested invoices during the inspection has been reported to the relevant institutions, and the documents related to the inspection in question have been sent to the Tax Office Presidency for examination. As the Ministry of Trade, we will continue our fight against exorbitant prices with determination.''

News Source: 12punto