Turkish authorities filed a criminal complaint Thursday against pharmaceutical manufacturer Unifar, based in Gebze, roughly 60 kilometers east of Istanbul, over the illegal disposal of toxic waste in the area.
The case began on 7 April when more than 200 barrels filled with phenol, a chemical used in drug production, were found buried near the Istanbul suburb of Tuzla. The site has been sealed off while officials test soil and groundwater for contamination. A truck driver told reporters he had been paid by Unifar to haul the barrels and was told the contents were harmless.
Environment Minister Osman Pepe noted that Unifar had already been fined twice before for environmental violations, yet current law limits penalties to about 7,608 Turkish lira (roughly 4,600 euros). He called the case proof that existing fines do little to discourage polluters.
Pepe urged parliament to pass a pending environmental bill that would raise maximum fines to three million Turkish lira and introduce prison sentences of one to three years for serious offenses.
The incident renewed scrutiny of Türkiye's environmental record as the country pursues EU membership. The government estimates that meeting EU environmental standards will require investment of up to 35 billion euros.
Historical summary. TurkishPress restated this wire report, first published in April 2006, in its own words.