OREANDA-NEWS. February 09, 2011. Deputy Head of the Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS Russia) Mr. Andrey Tsyganov, and the Russia and Eurasia Director, of the Office of the United States Trade Representative, Ms. Elizabeth Haffnerhad a meeting, which took place upon the initiative of the US Embassy in Moscow, reported the press-centre of FAS Russia.

Other participants included officers of the FAS Russia’s Department for Control over the Authorities, the FAS Russia’s Department for International Economic Cooperation and Embassy representatives.

The parties discussed specific features and problems in the field of regulating the market of production and sale of alcohol products in the Russian Federation.

Detailed attention was given to the issues of protecting competition on the market of production and sale of alcohol products, particularly, thought the work of the FAS Russia’s Expert Council on Developing Competition on the Market of Production and Sale of Ethanol, Alcohol and Alcohol-Containing Products.

The American side suggested that actions of the Federal Service for Regulation of Alcohol Market (Rosalcoholregulirovanie) create difficulties for entrepreneurial activities, first of all, when accepting applications for extending the licences there is misunderstanding of the existing procedures.

Deputy Head of the Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS Russia), Mr. Andrey Tsyganov stated: “True, mass re-issuing of licenses in 2011 is attracting close attention of all market participants. FAS Russia receives complaints that Rosalcoholregulirovanie violates the antimonopoly law when granting licenses. Along with initiating case upon the facts of antimonopoly violations, FAS Russia uses other means of antimonopoly regulation, including competition advocacy”.