OREANDA-NEWS. January 29, 2010. The Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS Russia) initiated proceedings against the Ministry of Industry and Commerce of the Russian Federation for the signs of violating Part 1 Article 15 of the Federal Law "On Protection of Competition", reported the press-centre FAS Russia.

On 1st January 2010 came into force arrangements between the member-states of the Customs Union (Russia - Belarus - Kazakhstan), according to which in order to be able to import some groups of products, including alcohol products, it is necessary to obtain additional licenses from the Ministry of Industry and Commerce to import products in accord with the code of the Unified Classification of Goods for Foreign Economic Activity.

At the same time, importers of alcohol products still have valid licenses for purchasing, storage and supplies of alcohol products and licenses for import of vodka and spirits.

Today dozens of trucks with alcohol products are stuck at customs points, because they are not allowed into the country without a license issued by the Ministry of Industry and Commerce. According to expert assessments, only in the Central Federal District market participants should be issues dozens of thousands licenses with a rather limited period of time.

"After the case is processed, it will become clear if the Ministry of Industry and Commerce violated the antimonopoly law. We will check whether the Ministry undertook all necessary measures to prevent such complications", concluded Stats-Secretary Andrey Tsarikovsky, Deputy Head of FAS Russia.