Turkey’s Competition Authority has fined Novonesis €5.9 million (₺284.5 million) for abusing its dominant position in several enzyme markets, concluding a probe that has spanned more than a year and targeted one of the largest players in the global biosolutions industry.
The regulator found that Novonesis — a group formed by Novo Holdings, Novo Nordisk, Novozymes, and CHR Hansen — used loyalty-inducing discounts, exclusive agreements, and “best price guarantee” clauses to restrict rivals in the Turkish markets for asparaginase, fungal alpha amylase, and glucoamylase enzymes. The authority ruled that these practices breached Article 6 of Turkey’s Competition Act No. 4054, which prohibits abuse of dominance.
According to the decision issued on 23 October 2025, Novonesis leveraged its position to tie customers to its products and exclude competing enzyme suppliers. The authority described the firm’s rebate systems and contract terms as having “an exclusionary nature” capable of distorting competition.
The fine applies only to Novonesis entities active in Turkey’s industrial enzyme sector. Novo Holdings, Novo Nordisk, and their Turkish subsidiary were cleared of any wrongdoing, as they had no direct commercial operations in the affected markets.
In a related finding, the authority also determined that a long-standing cooperation agreement between Novonesis and DSM Nutritional Products AG, signed in 2007 and concerning phytase enzymes, qualifies for block exemption under Turkey’s rules on specialization agreements.
Novonesis, which supplies enzymes to industries ranging from food and pharmaceuticals to textiles and hygiene, has not yet commented on the ruling. The decision adds to growing scrutiny of dominant players in biotechnology and enzyme production, as regulators worldwide intensify oversight of exclusionary practices in fast-evolving innovation markets.
