OREANDA-NEWS. June 15, 2009. The FAS Russia's delegation participated in Eighth Annual Conference of the International Competition Network (ICN) organized by the Swiss Competition Authority in Zurich (Switzerland), reported the press-centre of FAS Russia.

At the International Competition Network Steering Group's meeting held during the Conference the ICN Steering Group confirmed the FAS Russia nomination as Elected Member of the ICN Steering Group, which was a momentous event for the FAS Russia. The ICN Steering Group is a 15-person body that guides the work of the ICN. As a Member of the Steering Group, the FAS Russia will be able to carry its points as well as ones of the CIS-countries on competition issues. The FAS Russia required some years of active and outstanding contribution to the ICN activity and implementation of the ICN work products into the national competition legislation and enforcement before the event took place.

In the framework of the Conference, the delegation of the Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS Russia) headed by Mr. Andrey Tsarikovskiy, Stats-Secretary-Deputy Head of the FAS Russia, participated in series of Plenary and Session meetings of the Conference, in particular there was a report made by Mr. Vladimir Kachalin, Ph.D., Assistant to the Head of FAS Russia, at the ICN Advocacy Working Group's meeting co-chaired by the FAS Russia. The report was devoted to Assessment of ICN Members' Requirements and Recommendations on Further ICN Work on Competition Advocacy.

During the ICN Conference in Zurich there also were a number of bilateral meetings with leaders of competition authorities held to discuss bilateral cooperation prospects in the field of competition policy and participation in the BRIC International Competition Conference that will be held in Kazan on September 1-2, 2009. Most representatives of competition authorities were all in favour of the idea that such a conference would take place and expressed intention to participate in it.

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The ICN is a remarkable international organization. The ICN Membership continues to expand every year. Nowadays the ICN membership makes 107 competition authorities in 97 jurisdictions.

Over 450 delegates from more than 80 jurisdictions attended this year's conference, including more than 100 non-governmental experts. At the conference the delegates learnt a lot about real and specific ICN work products on strengthening competition law and policy across the world this year.

The ICN confirmed the appointment of the new Chair of the Steering Group, John Fingleton. Dr. Fingleton holds the position of Chef Executive at the Office of Fair Trading in the United Kingdom. "The ICN has had a transformational effect on international competition policy in many ways owing to which competition agencies across the world have got possibility to deliver better results," Dr. Fingleton said.

At the Conference, competition authorities and non-governmental participants worked together to promote superior methods in competition policy and enforcement in the areas of cartels, mergers, unilateral conduct/dominance, agency effectiveness, and competition advocacy, which promoted a deeper understanding of their common interests and differences. The ICN also provided a forum for discussion of emerging worldwide challenges.

This year's accomplishments of the ICN activity include the following developments and implementations:

- new Recommended Practices for Merger Analysis on competitive effects;

- inter-agency dialogue of ideas on how to improve agency effectiveness;

- reports on unilateral conduct addressing tying and bundled discounting, and single product loyalty rebates;

- a survey of ICN members' approach to market studies and support for competition advocacy
- updated chapters of the Anti-Cartel Enforcement Manual on Searches, Raids and Inspections, and Leniency.

Before its re-election in June 2009, the ICN Steering Group was comprised of 15 members and two ex-officio:

- seven European authorities (Italy, France, Germany, EU, United Kingdom, Switzerland and Israel);

- five American authorities (Brazil, Canada Mexico, USA (2));

- four Asian authorities (Australia, Japan, Korea, Turkey);

- one African authority (South Africa).

The members of the ICN Steering Group for the period of 2009-2011 are:

1. Australian Competition and Consumer Commission;

2. Autorita Garante della Concorrenza e del Mercato (Italy);

3. Conseil de la Concurrence (France);

4. Conselho Administrativo de Defesa Economica (Brazil) (CADE);

5. Bunderskartellamt (Germany);

6. Competition Bureau (Canada);

7. European Commission;

8. Federal Antimonopoly Service (Russian Federation);

9. Japan Fair Trade Commission;

10. Korea Fair Trade Commission;

11. Federal Competition Commission (Mexico);

12. Office of Fair Trading (United Kingdom);

13. Competition Tribunal (South Africa);

14. Department of Justice (United States of America)

15. Federal Trade Commission (United States of America)

Ex-officio members:

1. Swedish Competition Authority;
2. Turkish Competition Authority;
3. Netherlands Competition Authority.