Press-release of 09.07.2010

On 1st July 2010, the Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS Russia) found that the "State Commission of the Russian Federation for Selection Achievements Test and Protection" Federal State Institution ("Gossortcommissia") violated Article 15 of the Federal Law "On Protection of Competition" (prohibiting competition -restricting actions of the authorities) and issued a determination to eliminate the violations.

The case was initiated upon a petition of "Opora Rossii" - a national non-government organization of small and medium business, to which that "Gossortcommissia" unlawfully made illegal charges for exercising actions related to the State Register of Selection Achievements Eligible for Use.

According to "Opora Rossii", every year economic entities had to pay for maintenance of seeds of floricultural crops included in the State Register.

Including selection achievements to the State Register of Selection Achievements Eligible for Use, is a necessary conditions for imports and circulations of seed in the Russian Federation.

Payments for actions related to the State Register of Selection Achievements Eligible for Use was established by a government Decree. However, this Decree ceased to be in force on 29th September 2009.

Investigating the case FAS Russia established that "Gossortcommissia" had been governed by the Rules for compiling and filing applications for authorizing the use of selection achievement ?, as well as the Regulations for temporary inclusion the State Register of Selection Achievements Eligible for Use, published on the official Internet site of "Gossortcommissia", which had requirements for money payments.

At the same time, "Gossortcommissia" admitted that it continued receiving payment instructions; but it had never exercised any actions aimed at informing the buyers that do not need to pay.

Having investigated the case, FAS Russia issued a determination to Gossortcommissia" Federal State Institution to publish official explanation ?on its official web-site that all actions related to the State Register of Selection Achievements Eligible for Use, are performed free-of-charge, as well as information that all persons who paid money after 29th September 2009 have a right to return unnecessary paid money according to the established procedures.