A comprehensive bill introducing new regulations to industry and commerce has been published in the Official Gazette. Under this, individuals or legal entities not complying with standards in services, maintenance, inspection, and other commercial activities could face fines of up to 482,204 liras. Any discrepancies in the repair and calibration processes of measurement tools and instruments could result in fines of up to 50,000 liras. The Law on Some Amendments Regarding Scientific and Technological Research Institute (TÜBİTAK) and Some Laws, published in the Official Gazette, includes changes to the Prevention of Adulteration in Trade and the Surveillance and Conservation of Exports Law. In accordance with the amendments, those in violation of the regulatory procedures related to service, inspection, maintenance, monitoring, and control activities published in the Official Gazette, or non-product mandatory standards, could be subject to administrative fines ranging from 12,020 liras to 482,204 liras. This regulation will come into effect on March 14th. TÜBİTAK Authorized Up to 250,000 Liras TÜBİTAK will now provide scholarships to exceptional high education students without being subject to the Law on Scholarships and Credits for Higher Education Students by monitoring and assisting their development following their performances in education and after. In the framework of the amendments made in the Law on Some Regulations Regarding TÜBİTAK, the Board of Directors will continue to make decisions on legal settlement or contract changes for disputes between TÜBİTAK, other public institutions, individuals, and legal entities, though the amounts specified in the Law will change. The Board of Directors will be authorized to waive prosecution, appeals, or similar actions, grant rights, relinquish benefits, or make appropriate payments, up to a limit of 250,000 liras, due to financial or legal reasons during the trial process at higher courts and institutions when there is no benefit in pursuing the matter. This amount will be annually increased in line with the revaluation rate and effective from the beginning of each calendar year. These regulations will come into force on June 5th. Fines of Up to 50,000 Liras for Measurement Instruments The amendments to the Law on Measures and Calibration have also entered into force. In this regard, anyone not adhering to the regulatory procedures issued based on the Law for inspections, repairs, and calibrations of measurement tools and instruments, with the exception of the actions listed under the “Administrative sanctions” heading in the Law, could face administrative fines ranging from 5,000 liras to 50,000 liras. Authorization to the President for TESK and TOBB Fees Amendments have been made to the Promotion and Exemptions Law of the Small and Medium Enterprises Development and Support Administration (KOSGEB). According to this, the revenues of the Administration will consist of allocations transferred to the budget of the Ministry of Industry and Technology, fees paid based on the annual profits of institutions, organizations, or related joint ventures subject to the relevant legislation on Public Economic Enterprises, fees paid based on the annual profits subject to corporation tax of banks with more than 50% of their capital owned by public institutions, credits provided from external sources, donations and contributions to the Administration, and other revenues resulting from the assets and rights owned by the Administration and operational revenues. The President will have the authority to double the fees that Turkey Tradesmen and Craftsmen Confederation (TESK) and Turkey Chambers and Stock Exchanges Union (TOBB) pay in proportion to 2% of their gross annual incomes within the revenues of the Administration. This regulation will be effective from June 4th.