OREANDA-NEWS. May 22, 2014. Four years after the Federal Law “On the Fundamental Principles of State Regulation of Trading Activity” came into force, it reached its objectives: market participants became more careful not only to compliance with the law but also in relations with each other, stated Deputy Head of the Federal Antimonopoly Service, Andrey Kashevarov, opening the National Research-to-Practice Conference on “Supporting Competition in Trading Activities”.

He said that retailers and suppliers had signed the Fair Practices Code and formed a Commission to regulated disputes. Market participants have developed the best practices and standards; nevertheless, the Law on Trade shall have changes: FAS is discussing several amendments with the Ministry of Economic Development and the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation.

“The Conference will be the next stage of resolving the issues we are facing today”, pointed out the speaker.

Conference participants and guests were welcomed by the Prime-Minister of the Republic of Tatarstan, Ildar Khalikov. He emphasized the importance of the Conference under the new political conditions.

The Prime-Minister expressed concerns about the increase in counterfeit products “The level of falsifications on the markets of food and textile products is 30% and even more. Nearly all large producers have to deal with the problem”, stressed Mr. Khalikov.

Another problematic issue, according to the Prime-Minister, is related to Russia joining WTO and the Customs Union. He said that “a strange situation emerges when joining the Customs Union we do not always have time to regulate relations so we create conditions that are clearly disadvantageous for Russian producers. At the same time, through schemes for stimulating business in their territories, our friends and partners from the Customs Union effectively catch serious niches of Russian business”.

The plenary session was continued by Deputy Chairman of the Federal Arbitration Court of the Povolzhie District, Gennady Kormakov with a report on “Evidence and Proof on the Cases on Suppressing Violations of the Antimonopoly Standards of Trading Activities”.

The Head of FAS Department for Control over Social Sphere and Trade, Timophei Nizhegorodtsev, discussed experience of enforcement of the Federal Law on Trade and the prospects of developing regulation in this field.

Plenary sessions focused on interactions between trading networks and local producers, and the issues of non-discriminatory access to trading networks.

On 16th May, representatives of academic community discussed approaches to regulating and stimulating competition in trading activities. There was also a Round Table on the impact of legislative initiatives in retail sale of alcohol products upon competition.

“Supporting Competition in Trading Activities” National Research-to-Practice Conference took place for the first time. It was organized by the Federal Antimonopoly Service, Tatarstan FAS Office, and Kazan (Privolzhie) Federal University. Attendees included representatives of trading networks, judicial and academic community, “Rusprodsoyuz” Association of Food Products Producers and Suppliers, Retailers Association (AKORT), and the Russian Union of Independent Networks.