Trade Ministry Launches Transparency Operation: Regulations Ending Hidden Fees and Digital Monopoly

The Ministry of Trade takes the stage with a stringent regulatory package targeting pricing scandals in the retail and service sectors, redefining market transparency and strengthening inspection mechanisms to safeguard consumer economic interests.

Zero Tolerance for Hidden Costs in the Restaurant Sector

The Ministry's new regulations focus on preventing consumer grievances in the food and beverage sector, eliminating ambiguity in price tags. The announcement clarifies that items not listed on the price list cannot be passed on to the consumer:

■Additional charges such as "service", "table", or "cover" fees that are not listed on the price list cannot be demanded in restaurants, cafes, and similar establishments.

■Tipping is entirely based on the consumer's own free will and relies on the principle of volunteerism; no coercion or automatic addition can be made.

Breaking Digital Monopolies with Mandatory Physical Menus

A new standard has been introduced to prevent the conveniences of digitalization from restricting the consumer's right to information. This move secures commercial access, particularly for the elderly and those distant from technology:

■Menus cannot be offered "solely" via QR codes; establishments are obliged to keep printed price lists visible to consumers, in addition to digital access.

Consumer Preference in Price Discrepancies

A definitive ruling in favor of the consumer has been introduced regarding differences between label prices and checkout prices and weighing errors. This practice provides a strong legal ground against unfair pricing:

■In cases where the label price differs from the checkout price, the lower price—favoring the consumer—is applied.

■For products sold in the open, the weight of the container or packaging (tare) cannot be included in the price; the consumer pays only based on the net weight of the product purchased.

Markets may interpret this regulation as a short-term pressure on operational margins within service sector stocks. However, as a measure to prevent "hidden inflation" in an inflationary environment, this step carries the quality of a positive structural reform for the sustainability of retail demand by restoring consumer confidence indices in the long run. Facilitating the consumer's rights claim process could positively reflect on household financial health indirectly.