Meat and Milk Institution faces scrutiny over leadership and imports

During a meeting of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey's Public Economic Enterprises (KİT) Commission regarding the 2023-2024 accounts of the Meat and Milk Institution (ESK), controversy arose regarding the institution's leadership and import practices.

MP Mehmet Tahtasız raised questions concerning ESK General Manager Mücahit Taylan, alleging that Taylan is a partner in ‘Green Farm And Trade’, a company that imports meat from Hungary. Tahtasız questioned Taylan's qualifications and called for an investigation into his partnership status and potential ethics violations. The Commission Chairman, Mustafa Savaş, declined to address the allegations during the current session, stating the matter would be evaluated during the 2025 account discussions.

In his presentation, General Manager Mücahit Taylan addressed global challenges such as climate change, geopolitical tensions, and supply chain disruptions affecting food security. He noted that ESK has engaged in market interventions through red meat imports to stabilize prices, reporting approximately 60,000 tons of meat supplied in 2023 and 100,000 tons in 2024. He emphasized efforts to expand the supply network to reach more consumers through various retail channels.