Important Announcement on Compliance with Legislation in the Fruit and Vegetable Trade

In the letter of the Ministry of Trade of the Republic of Türkiye forwarded to our Chamber by TOBB, it is stated that various complaints recently submitted to the Ministry include allegations that, in commercial relations concerning agricultural and food products such as fruit and vegetables that may spoil within thirty days of the production date, maximum payment terms are not observed, premiums and fees contrary to the legislation are demanded and products are returned.

In this context;

• Pursuant to Law No. 6585 on the Regulation of Retail Trade, the payment terms for agricultural and food products that may spoil within 30 days of the production date are as follows:
  • A maximum of 30 days where the creditor is small and the debtor is medium- or large-scale, or where the creditor is medium-scale and the debtor is large-scale,
  • and a maximum of 45 days in all other cases.
• According to the provisions of the same Law and the relevant Regulation;
  • Demanding premiums and fees that are not expressly stated in the contract or for which no service is provided,
  • and returning products after delivery on the grounds that they could not be sold
    are considered unfair commercial practices and are prohibited.
• In addition, pursuant to the provisions of Law No. 5957 on the Regulation of the Trade of Fruit and Vegetables and Other Goods with Sufficient Supply and Demand Depth and the relevant Regulation:
  • Making any deductions other than statutory deductions from product prices,
  • and paying for purchased goods outside the periods prescribed in the legislation
    are prohibited.

Accordingly, it is of great importance that our members engaged in the fruit and vegetable trade:

• avoid unfair commercial practices in the supply chain,
• make their payments within the legal maximum periods,
• refrain from deductions, premiums and return practices contrary to the legislation,

and show the necessary attention and sensitivity in these matters.

Considering that contrary practices may be subject to administrative sanctions, the provisions of the relevant legislation must be strictly observed.

This is submitted for your information and is announced with importance to our members.