Effective January 1, 2016, higher fines will be imposed for certain violations of Turkey's Consumer Protection Law (No. 6502). Fines will increase 5.58% compared to 2015.
Specifically, a company found to have:
- used unlawfully unfair terms or failed to use 12-point bold type in consumer agreements, or failed to provide explicit and legible safety information to consumers for goods deemed potentially harmful to consumers or the environment will be subject to a fine of TRY 232 (approx. USD 80) per violation;
- breached the rules on agreements concluded outside the workplace (such as direct sales agreements) will be subject to a fine of TRY 1,162 (approx. USD 400) per agreement;
- made a deceptive or misleading representation through mass media advertising will be subject to a fine of TRY 5,812 to 232,508 (approx. USD 2,000 to 80,000) per violation.
Actions to consider
Firms should be aware how these changes in fines may affect their operations in Turkey, and take steps to ensure compliance with the Consumer Protection Law.
The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.