OREANDA-NEWS. September 03, 2009. “Practical application of the Second antimonopoly package of laws, anti-cartel activities, activization of interaction with law-enforcement authorities, the Accounts Chamber and the Federal Service for Defense Contracts - are the major tasks faced Russian competition authority in the nearest time”, - noted the Head of the Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS Russia) Mr. Igor Artemiev at the Collegium of the FAS Russia in Kazan, reported the press-centre of FAS Russia.

Besides, Igor Artemiev invoked the Heads of 82 Regional Bodies of the FAS Russia to enhance control over the top-priority markets (oil-products, pharmaceuticals, food) and to enhance control over regulatory bodies at all levels with regard to providing illegal preferences and infringement of the legislation on public procurements.

One of the priority tasks mentioned by the Head if the FAS Russia is development of the electronic auctions system and control in this sphere.

At the Collegium of the FAS Russia Mr. Artemiev told to the Heads of regional antimonopoly bodies and guests of the Collegium about innovations of the Second antimonopoly package of laws which took effect on the 23rd of August 2009.

In particular, the new definitions of dominant position in the market, monopolistic prices of goods, rules of non-discriminatory access to natural monopolies’ commodities, prohibitions with regard to “vertical” agreements, new prohibitions concerning law-enforcement authorities conduct were discussed. The Head of FAS Russia told about changes in control system over economic concentration.

According to Igor Artemiev in the first half- of 2009 FAS Russia and its Regional Bodies instituted 4168 proceedings on violation of the antimonopoly legislation, 180 cases were instituted under the Article 11 of the Law “On Protection o f Competition” (Prohibition of Agreements and Concerted Practices Restricting Competition) and 1056 cases under the Article 10 of the Law (Prohibition of Abuse of Dominant Position). However, as before, more than one –half of these proceeding were instituted against law-enforcement agencies.

In the first half of 2009 FAS Russia and its Regional Bodies instituted 2231 proceedings on violation of the advertising legislation. In total it exceeds number of proceedings instituted in the similar period in 2008 for 459 cases.