OREANDA-NEWS. February 13, 2014. The Commission of the Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS Russia) found that the Central Energy Customhouse as well as the North-Western and Southern Energy Customs Stations violated Part 1 Article 15 of the Federal Law “On Protection of Competition”.

FAS initiated a case upon investigating a petition of “Russian Associating of Marine and River Bunker Suppliers” Self-regulating Organization. The Association reported that the Central Energy Customhouse sent teletypograms to the heads of the energy customs stations about the customs control procedures in customs operations with the goods declared under the items of the 27 group of the Customs Union Commodity Classification of Foreign Economic Activity as supplies.

The procedures established by the teletypograms of the Central Energy Customhouse, enable bunkering and customs control of ships only at the quays of oil loading terminals, or in the harbour only for vertically-integrated companies, or non-vertically-integrated companies in the harbour on presentation of additional documents, not provided for by the current customs law.

Having studied all presented evidence and having heard the positions of the parties, the FAS Commission concluded that actions of the Central Energy Customhouse on issuing the teletypograms to the heads of the energy customs stations result in restricting competition and constitute a violation of Part 1 Article 15 of the Federal Law “On Protection of Competition”. The FAS Commission issued a determination to the Central Energy Customhouse to top violating the antimonopoly law.

The FAS Commission also found that the North-Western and Southern Energy Customs Stations violated Part 1 Article 15 of the Federal Law “On Protection of Competition” in the part of prohibiting loading marine stores in accordance with the teletypograms of the Central Energy Customhouse.

“Setting non-statutory restrictions and conditions of activities of economic entities adversely affects the state of competition and ultimately consumer abilities”, pointed out the Head of FAS Department for Control over the Authorities, Vladimir Mishelovin.