Message from Deputy Minister of Trade on fighting price gouging: “We will continue to pursue it diligently”
Deputy Minister of Trade Mahmut Gürcan announced that a 7-day defense period was given to a rest facility in Edirne after 14 products were recorded for inspection. This came in response to social media posts claiming that products were being sold at triple the price to expatriates returning from Europe.
Gürcan stated that following the social media post, the Edirne Provincial Directorate of Commerce had conducted the necessary inspections at the facility. As a result of these inspections, conducted on August 14, 2024, a report was filed concerning 14 products being sold at inflated prices under the authority of Law No. 6585, and the business was given a 7-day defense period.
In his post on the social media platform X, Gürcan also mentioned that on the same day, another inspection was carried out at the market belonging to the same facility under Law No. 6502. During this inspection, a report was filed for 35 products due to price label violations, and an administrative fine of 77,000 TL will be imposed.
Furthermore, a previous inspection on July 16, 2024, by the Edirne Provincial Directorate of Commerce, also under Law No. 6585, resulted in an additional administrative fine of 79,230 TL. Moreover, a penalty of 1 million TL will be imposed following the decision by the Price Gouging Board. Gürcan emphasized that the Ministry of Trade will continue its diligent efforts to combat price gouging and conduct price and label inspections with great care.
