Food testing labs fined for violating competition law

Authorities in Turkey have found three companies guilty of breaching competition laws.

The Turkish Competition Authority (Rekabet Kurumu) recently concluded an investigation involving five private food control laboratories.

The case concerned claims that the food testing labs fixed prices and exchanged certain information of a commercial nature. It was opened by the authority in November 2023.

According to the judgement, Kalite Sistem Laboratuvarları AŞ, Veltıa Laboratuvar ve Danışmanlık Hizmetleri AŞ (STA Kalite Kontrol Gıda Laboratuvarı AŞ), and Southern Agricultural Services Tarım Ltd. Şti. had an agreement or concerted practice to fix food analysis fees and exchange competitively sensitive information.

Çevre Endüstriyel Analiz Sanayi ve Ticaret AŞ and Radix Analiz Laboratuvar Hizmetleri Ticaret AŞ were cleared of any wrongdoing.

Kalite Sistem Laboratuvarları was fined more than 1,353,000 Turkish Lira ($33,500).

Veltıa Laboratuvar ve Danışmanlık Hizmetleri was fined more than 678,000 Turkish Lira ($16,800) and Southern Agricultural Services Tarım was told to pay more than 357,000 Turkish Lira ($8,800). 

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