FAS: PRICE REDUCTION UNDER OBJECTIVE CONDITIONS IS NOT UNFAIR COMPETITION

It also concerns cases when such a decrease occurred after the initiation of case on establishing monopolistically high price

FAS Russia refused to initiate proceedings against the Kronoshpan group on the fact of unfair competition resulted in lower prices for manufactured products (OSB plates).

FAS Russia draws attention that in order to detect unfair competition, it is necessary to have a number of obligatory signs in the company's actions*. Among them is the contradiction of these actions to the provisions of the current legislation, causing or being able to cause damage by these actions to another competing economic entity.

At the same time, the information provided by the applicant about a significant decrease in the prices of products by the Kronoshpan group is not sufficient to conclude that the antimonopoly legislation has been violated.

Earlier in September 2021, FAS Russia initiated antimonopoly case against the Kronoshpan group on abuse of dominant position, expressed in the establishment of a monopolistically high price. FAS Russia found that the group of companies unreasonably increased prices. It should be noted that the organization decreased prices to the level of the beginning of 2021 even before the end of the case.

* Paragraph 9 of Article 4 of the Law on Protection of Competition.

OSB plates (oriented strand board) are used in construction for cladding frame walls and ceilings, floor coverings and roofing.