Pricing Ordered in Local Currency
The administration of the Afrin region has instructed all commercial establishments to display the prices of their goods in the Syrian pound (SYP) under a directive issued on 19 July 2026. The measure applies to shops across the region and took effect immediately upon its issuance.
The directive draws on Circular No. 12707 of the Ministry of Economy and Industry, placing the local step within a wider national framework for using the national currency in retail pricing. It signals that everyday transactions in the area should be quoted against the pound rather than a foreign unit.
What Merchants Must Do
Under the rules, prices must be clearly marked on all merchandise so that customers can see them before buying. The requirement covers commercial establishments across the region, regardless of the type of goods they sell.
Placing a visible price on every item is intended to remove ambiguity at the point of sale and to make the quoted figure the one that governs the transaction.
Transitional Dual Display
During what authorities described as a transitional phase, traders may continue to show a second figure in the Turkish lira (TRY), provided the Syrian pound remains the primary quoted price.
The arrangement allows businesses accustomed to quoting in other currencies to adjust gradually while the pound is established as the reference for everyday transactions. The dual display is presented as a temporary accommodation rather than a permanent option.
Inspections and Penalties
Supervision teams will carry out field inspections to verify that shops comply with the requirement. Establishments found in violation face official citations and legal penalties under the regulations already in force.
The reliance on inspection teams gives the directive an enforcement mechanism beyond a simple announcement, tying compliance to on-the-ground checks of displayed prices.
Stated Objectives
Officials framed the decision as a step to improve transparency in local markets and to protect the rights of consumers, who they said should be able to compare prices in a single, clearly designated currency.
Requiring the Syrian pound as the headline price in a region where other currencies have circulated marks a concrete move to anchor daily commerce to the national unit.