THE FAS JOINTLY WITH THE PROCURACY SUPRESSED THE TENFOLD PRICE INCREASE FOR THE MASK

A Warning was issued to wholesaler LLC "VITTA company", in default of which the company faces administrative responsibility

An unprecedented overpricing was identified as part of the joint work of the Federal Antimonopoly Service and the Prosecution Authorities that on behalf of the President of the Russian Federation counteract unreasonably overpricing for food and goods in terms of spreading a new coronavirus infection in the country.

Within the daily monitoring of price formation conducted by the Moscow Regional Prosecutor's Office and the Moscow Regional Office of the FAS Russia, it was revealed the increasing in the cost of medical masks by LLC "VITTA company", which carries out pharmaceutical products wholesale.

According to the inspection results on implementation of the current legislation in the formation of prices for medical masks, it was found that in the period from December 2019 to February 2020, the company purchased three-layer protective masks from the manufacturer at a price of 7.29 rubles per 1 piece.

At the same time, selling price for the masks increased to 957% for this period.

Due to the lack of substantial grounds for the price increase, the Procuracy issued the Warning to the General Director of LLC "VITTA company" on the inadmissibility of violating the requirements of the antimonopoly legislation and warned of administrative liability in case of non-compliance.

The Moscow Regional Office of the FAS Russia appealed on the fact of unjustified overpricing for masks to the Department of Economic Security and Anti-Corruption of the Moscow Regional Office of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia in order to bring those responsible to criminal prosecution.

"Due to unacceptable, unfair actions of "VITTA company" and similar organizations in early months of 2020, price hike for masks and even their deficit was determined in the regions of the country. Greed at the expense of the health of fellow citizens deprives the management of such economic entities of any moral and ethical principles. However, I want to remind them that in case of failure to comply with the Warning issued by the Prosecutor, the companies face administrative responsibility," commented Andrey Tenishev, Head of the Anti – Cartel Department of the FAS Russia.