OREANDA-NEWS. December 07, 2010. St Petersburg Office of the Federal Antimonopoly Service (OFAS Russia) found that “Agrotorg” Ltd., “Perekryostok” Trading House” CJSC, “Real - Hypermarket” Ltd., “Lenta” Ltd., “DIKSI - PETERSBURG” CJSC and “O’kay” Ltd. violated Clause 1 Part 1 Article 11 of the Federal Law “On Protection of Competition” (competition-restricting agreements and concerted actions), reported the press-centre of FAS Russia.

The companies violated the law by exercising concerted actions, which resulted in fixing and maintaining retail prices for buckwheat. St Petersburg OFAS Russia issued a determination to the companies to stop competition-restricting concerted actions.

Earlier St Petersburg OFAS Russia initiated a case against several companies involved in retail trade with food products through trading networks.

Regular monitoring or process for agricultural products, carried out to implement the order of the Russian Government, St Petersburg OFAS Russia discovered unreasonably excessive prices and mark-ups for buckwheat. Such actions of retail chains resulted in practically simultaneous fixing and maintaining buckwheat prices. The Commission of St Petersburg OFAS Russia found that such actions were in violation of the Federal Law “On Protection of Competition”.

According to the Head of St Petersburg OFAS Russia, Mr. Oleg Kolomiichenko, the conduct of the retail chains cannot be justified by adverse climatic and natural conditions and are unacceptable.