OREANDA-NEWS  On 02 June was announced, that Federal Customs Service (FTS Russia) informed the Federal Antimonopoly Service on partial execution of the FAS Russia's determination on violation of the antimonopoly legislation by FTS Russia.

FTS Russia violated the law by issuing orders that restricted credit organisations (banks issuing customs cards) in their choice of economic entities, with which credit organisations can sign contracts for issuing customs cards. The orders also prevented economic activities of "Tamozhennaya Karta" Ltd.

To stop the antimonopoly violations, FAS Russia issued a determination to the Federal Customs Service, requesting it to abolish and amend the acts, that contravened the antimonopoly legislation, and exercise actions towards protection of competition.

Executing Clause 1.1 of the determination, FTS Russia made No.795 Order of 6th May 2009, abolishing the order on terminating activities of "Tamozhennaya Karta" Ltd. in its capacity as the coordinator for issuing customs cards.

Under Clause 2.1 of the determination, on 15th May 2009 FTS Russia sent No. 01-11/21958 Letter to inform customs bodies on inadmissibility of unreasonable refusals to accept customs cards issued by credit organisations that have contracts on issuing customs cards with "Tamozhennaya Karta" Ltd. and "Tamozhennaya Platezhnaya Sistema" Ltd.

At the same time, FTS Russia informed that it had filed a lawsuit to the Moscow Arbitration Court challenging the FAS Russia's determination in the part of amending No.757 Order of the State Customs Committee of Russia "On Improving the System for Paying Customs Duties" (creating competitive conditions for the coordinator for issuing customs cards).

FTS Russia based its position, that the above part of the determination contravened the law, on the ruling of the Supreme Arbitration Court of the Russian Federation on No. 14987/08 case.