OREANDA-NEWS. February 11, 2010. The Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS Russia) made a decision to initiate an antimonopoly case against Moscow and St Petersburg Offices of the Ministry of Industry and Commerce of the Russian Federation, after FAS discovered that their actions had signs of violating Article 15 of the Federal Law "On Protection of Competition" in licensing import of alcoholic products, reported the press-centre of FAS Russia.

The decision to initiate the antimonopoly case was made on the basis of the outcome of a case against the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, which proceedings were terminated on 5th February 2010 because by the Order issued by the Ministry on 30th December 2009 the authority to issue appropriate licenses is clothed to the regional offices of the Ministry of Industry and Commerce.

The case against the Ministry of Industry and Commerce was initiated upon information in the media that alcohol products were being delayed at customs points and could not be brought in the Russian Federation.

Taking into account that licensing restrictions were introduced by regional offices of the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, responsible for licensing import of alcohol products, the case is initiated against relevant regional offices of the Ministry of Industry and Commerce of the Russian Federation, with the Ministry of Industry and Commerce brought into the proceedings as an interested party.