OREANDA-NEWS. On July 07, 2009 the Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS Russia) imposed administrative charges upon "Voskresenskie Mineralnie Udobrenia [Mineral Fertilisers]" OJSC under Article 14.31 of the Code of the Russian Federation on Administrative Violations and fined the company 1,541,304 Rubles for abusing dominant market position on the market of sulphate-free phosphoric acid, reported the press-centre of FAS Russia.

Earlier FAS Russia investigated a case against "Voskresenskie Mineralnie Udobrenia" OJSC, initiated upon a petition of "Voskresensky NIUiF [Voskresensk Research Institute for Fertilisers and Phosphoric Acid" OJSC, and found that the company violated Article 10 of the Federal Law "On Protection of Competition". In particular, "Voskresenskie Mineralnie Udobrenia" OJSC refused to supply sulphate-free phosphoric acid to "Voskresensky NIUiF" OJSC without economic or technological reasons, created discriminatory conditions and infringed economic interests of "Voskresensky NIUiF" OJSC in 2008.

Arguments presented by "Voskresenskie Mineralnie Udobrenia" OJSC to the FAS Russia's Commission, investigating the case, did not justify terminating supplies of sulphate-free phosphoric acid to "Voskresensky NIUiF" OJSC.

Derived products of sulphate-free phosphoric acid are also used in car manufacturing and food industry.

Reference:
Under Article 14.31 of the Code of the Russian Federation on Administrative Violations, abusing dominant position is punishable by an administrative fine upon legal persons from 1 to 15% of the total proceeds gained by the violator from selling goods on the market, where the violation was committed, in the year, preceeding the year when the violation was discovered, by no more than 2% of the total proceeds from selling all goods.