FAS OPENED CARTEL CASE FOR SUPPLY OF SOCIALLY IMPORTANT FOOD PRODUCTS TO SOCIAL INSTITUTIONS WORTH MORE THAN 2.7 BILLION RUB
12-09-2023 | 16:55
Companies face turnover fines
FAS Russia opened a case of violation of antimonopoly legislation* against AST Service LLC and Vesta LLC.
FAS Russia has identified signs of the conclusion and implementation of a cartel in order to maintain prices at auctions for the supply of food products, including those included in the List of certain types of socially significant essential food products.
The authority suspects that winning the auction was achieved by organizations by submitting imaginary agreements concluded between companies as part of their bids.
The purchases took place for the needs of budgetary medical and other social institutions in Moscow and Moscow region.
According to the preliminary assessment of the antimonopoly authority, the amount of the initial maximum contract prices is over 2.7 billion rubles.
If guilt is established, companies face turnover fines in accordance with the Code of Administrative Offences of the Russian Federation**.
The authority will continue to monitor the situation in socially significant markets for the presence of anticompetitive agreements or concerted actions.
* On grounds of violation of Paragraph 2 of Part 1 of Article 11 of the Federal Law of July 26, 2006 No. 135-FZ "On Protection of Competition"
** Part 2 of Article 14.32 of Code of Administrative Offences of the Russian Federation