OREANDA-NEWS. January 20, 2009. The Federal Service for Environmental Control (Rosprirodnadzor) informed the Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS Russia) on voluntary elimination of the antimonopoly violations, related to licensing exercised by the Service within its scope of authority for protection, control and state regulation of the use of the fauna and its habitat, reported the press-centre of FAS Russia.

Earlier a FAS Russia's inspection revealed that Rosprirodnadzor violated Part 1 Article 15 of the Federal Law "On Protection of Competition" by charging a fee for processing applications and granting permissions (administrative licenses) for wild-life turnover, as well as for taking of flora and fauna, included in the endangered-species list of the Russian Federation, and by refusing to grant permissions to economic entities without a fee or a receipt for payment for the permission. No regulatory or legal framework determines the form, procedures and amount of such payments.

According to FAS Russia, such actions of Rosprirodnadzor unreasonably prevented economic activities of market participants.

FAS Russia suggested that Rosprirodnadzor must take measures to eliminate the antimonopoly violations and forward the documents, confirming elimination of the violations, to FAS Russia.

In the letter of 30th December 2008, Rosprirodnadzor informed that it suspended charging the fee until relevant amendments are introduced to the Budget Code of the Russian Federation, and enclosed a copy of the Rosprirodnadzor's order with the letter.