OREANDA-NEWS. September 30, 2010. The Belgorod Office of the Federal Antimonopoly Service (OFAS Russia) initiated cases against “Chernozemye-Trade” Ltd. and “GRINN” Corporation” CJSC for the signs of violating Part 1 Article 13 of the Federal Law “On the Basic Principles of Regulating Trading Activities in the Russian Federation” (further on referred to as the Federal Law “On Trade”) - imposing disadvantageous conditions upon a counteragent, reported the press-centre of FAS Russia.

Inspecting retail chains in May-June 2010, Belgorod OFAS Russia discovered sings of violating the Federal Law “On Trade”.

Under Part 2 Article 22 of the Federal Law “On Trade”, conditions of the contracts for supplies of food products that were concluded before the Federal Law came into force (1st February 2010) must be adjusted in accordance with the provisions of the Law within 180 days upon the Law coming into force (by 1st August 2010).

In August 2010, Belgorod OFAS Russia again carried out the inspections and found that out of the three earlier inspected retail networks only “MAGNIT”, in the person of its Belgorod branch – “Tander” CJSC, adjusted its contracts for supplies of food products in accordance with the existing legislation. “Chernozemye-Trade” Ltd. (“VESTER” retail network) and “GRINN” Corporation” CJSC (“LINIA” hypermarket) have only partially eliminated the signs of violations discovered by OFAS Russia.

Apart from the signs of violating Part 1 Article 13 of the Federal Law “On Trade”, contracts for supplies of food products concluded by “Chernozemye-Trade” Ltd. include conditions that are contrary to Article 9 the Federal Law “On Trade”: non-compliance with the payment periods for supplied food products specified in the Federal Law “On Trade”; including conditions on the merchandising strategy of the retail network in the supply contract.

“The cases will be considered with involvement of representatives of retail networks. Currently OFAS is requesting a lot of information and analyzing it. Supermarkets “VESTER” and “LINIA” are popular among local residents but they must comply with the Law on Trade like other market participants”, said the Head of Belgorod OFAS Russia Sergey Petrov.

The cases will be considered on 26 and 29th October 2010.