OREANDA-NEWS. September 24, 2010. Omsk Office of the Federal Antimonopoly Service (OFAS Russia) finalized the case against “Manros-M” – a branch of “Vimm-Bill-Dan” OJSC, “Lyubinsky MKK” CJSC and “Vita” OJSC initiated upon the signs of antimonopoly violations, reported the press-centre of FAS Russia.

On 6th September 2010, based on its monitoring of prices on agricultural products markets in the Omsk region, OFAS initiated a case against Omsk producers of dairy products. The monitoring showed that in August ex-works prices for milk with 2.5% fat content increased by 15.02% (“Manros-M” – a branch of “Vimm-Bill-Dan” OJSC), 15. -44% (“Vita” OJSC) and 9.53% (“Lyubinsky MKK” CJSC).

The Commission of Omsk OFAS Russia found that in August 2010 “Manros-M” – a branch of “Vimm-Bill-Dan” OJSC, “Lyubinsky MKK” CJSC and “Vita” OJSC exercised concerted actions aimed at fixing and maintaining prices for packed drinking pasteurized (sterilized) milk with 2.5% fat content and violated Part 1 Article 11 of the Federal Law “On Protection of Competition”.

Respondents to the case will be issued a determination to stop the violation and the case file will be transferred to an executive officer of OFAS Russia responsible for initiating administrative proceedings against the violators.

“Analysis of the information submitted by the respondents showed that the growth of ex-works prices did not correspond with the growth of purchasing prices, although there were no objective reasons for such discrepancy”, explained the Head of Omsk OFAS Russia Sergey Sumenkov.

Reference:
Part 1 Article 11 of the Federal Law “On Protection of Competition” prohibits agreements between economic entities or concerted actions of economic entities on the market.