OREANDA-NEWS. June 21, 2013. In February 2012 the Head of he Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS Russia), Igor Artemiev stated at the extended Collegium of FAS Russia that “combating cartels remains a FAS priority for the next four years”.

“A little over than a year passed. During this period a significant breakthrough was achieved in anti-cartel efforts: several important decisions were made on the cases on nation-wide cartels, for instance, on the market of caustic soda, medicines and in the fishing industry. To a considerable extent it became possible due to coming into effect the third antimonopoly package and cooperation with foreign competition authorities”, explained the Head of FAS Anti-Cartel Department, Alexander Kinev.

Foreign competition authorities also pay considerable attention to this issue. For instance, on 11-13 June 2013, in Rovin, the Republic of Croatia, a FAS representative took part in the workshop on the “Cartel Investigation Procedures: Leniency Program, Unscheduled Field Checks, as well as Problems with Public Procurement”, organized by OECD Regional Competition Centre in Budapest.

Representatives of antimonopoly authorities of Albania, Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Azerbaijan, Ukraine, Belarus, the US, Germany, Israel and other countries took part in the workshop.

The workshop discussed the issues related to organization of unscheduled field checks in the field of competition and public procurement. As pointed out the Head of the Third Division of FAS Anti-Cartel Department, Mukhamed Khamukov: “It is surprise inspections that are efficient for the purposes of combating cartels. For instance, in 2009 FAS carried out 19 inspections, in 2010 – 32, in 2011 – 48, and in 2012 – 43. All inspections were efficient”.

Russia’s experience in this field generated considerable interest of the audience. “Within a short period Russian antimonopoly authority achieved considerable results in cartel investigations”, commented a senior competition expert of OECD Directorate, Sabina Cigelski.