OREANDA-NEWS. December 06, 2012. The Commission of the Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS Russia) found that the Ministry of Economic Development, Investments and Trade of the Samara Region violated Part 1 Article 15 of the Federal Law “On Protection of Competition” (competition-restricting actions of executive bodies), reported the press-centre of FAS Russia.  

Earlier the regional Ministry did not accept declarations from a “Duty free” store -“AeroTradeService” Ltd. about the scope of retail sale of alcohol products in the Samara region on the grounds of absence of a registration number of the supplier (producer) license and the date of issue. Then the Ministry suspended the store license for retail sale of alcohol products in “Kurumoch” international airport due to violation of licensing requirements.

A supplier of “AeroTradeService” Ltd. is a foreign company, a resident of the Federative Republic of Germany that does not have and cannot have a Russian license for selling alcohol products.

Investigating the case, the FAS Commission established that the conclusion of the Ministry on “AeroTradeService” Ltd. breaching the licensing requirements were unlawful.

Moscow Arbitration Court and the 9th Arbitration Appeal Court confirmed that actions of the regional Ministry had been unreasonable.

“When the license of “AeroTradeService” Ltd. for retail sale of alcohol products was unreasonably suspended, “Kurumoch” international airport terminated the contract for leasing the premises occupied by the “Duty free” store. From January 2013 a different legal entity will operate the store. Thus, the Ministry not only prevented normal functioning of the “Duty free” store but ultimately pushed the economic entity out from the market”, pointed out the Head of FAS Department for Control over the Authorities, Vladimir Mishelovin.