In the event that the Competition Board fines Turkish Joint Fertilizer Factories Stock Company (GÜBRETAŞ) in line with the findings of the investigation committee, the ethics of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, İbrahim Yumaklı, would be a matter of discussion and his dismissal would come to the agenda.
It was noteworthy that 5 fertilizer companies were acquitted with the decision, which is expected to have such a political result.
In the anticompetitive investigation initiated by the Competition Board against 7 fertilizer companies in August 2021, the investigation committee found that 5 fertilizer companies were uncompetitive and demanded fines.
The Competition Board's decision not to impose fines on any fertilizer company caused the decision to be questioned politically.
Because of GÜBRETAŞ, the said decision was closely related to Minister of Agriculture and Forestry İbrahim Yumaklı.
Because the competition investigation covered Yumaklı's GÜBRETAŞ General Management period.
INVESTIGATION COMMITTEE SUPPLIED A HEAVY REPORT ON ANTI-COMPETITIVENESS
In the investigation initiated by the Competition Board against fertilizer companies on the grounds that they prevented competition by acting jointly in fertilizer prices in August 2021, the investigation committee stated that last week (July 26), 5 fertilizer companies, including GÜBRETAŞ, were found to be uncompetitive. He wanted the company to be fined.
A HEAVY PENALTY WAS DEMANDED TO GÜBRETAŞ
The investigation committee, which found non-competitiveness against BAĞFAŞ, GEMLIK, EGE GÜBRE, TOROS and GÜBRETAŞ,
GÜBRETAŞ, EGE GÜBRE and TOROS demanded a heavier fine to be imposed on these three fertilizer companies, since BAĞFAŞ AND GEMLIK made anticompetitiveness shorter in duration, but between 1 and 5 years.
COMPETITION BOARD DECIDES “NO PENALTY IS NEEDED”
While the clear findings of the investigation committee regarding anti-competitiveness are evident, the Competition Board, with the statement it made the previous day, it has been decided that the undertakings operating in the fertilizer sector, which are party to the investigation, do not violate Article 4 of the Law on the Protection of Competition No. 4054, therefore there is no need to impose administrative fines on the undertakings in question.
IN CASE THE PENALTY IS IMPLEMENTED, YUMAKLI'S DISMISSAL WOULD COME TO THE INVENTION
Despite the investigation committee's determination of noncompetitiveness, the fact that 5 fertilizer companies were not punished in the slightest caused the decision to be questioned.
In the event that fertilizer companies were penalized, the ministry of Agriculture and Forestry Minister İbrahim Yumaklı would be questioned in terms of ethics because of GÜBRETAŞ, and Yumaklı's dismissal would come to the fore.
With the controversial decision of the Competition Board, Minister of Agriculture and Forestry İbrahim Yumaklı was also acquitted.