OREANDA-NEWS. January 11, 2009. Representatives of FAS Russia met the delegation of the National Agency for Protection of Competition of the Moldova Republic, led by Ms Kerare, the Agency's General Director. The meeting was held at the Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS Russia), reported the press-centre of EBRD.

Opening the meeting, Stats-Secretary Andrey Tsarikovsky, Deputy Head of FAS Russia, said: "The established practice of organizing meetings between representatives of the competition authorities is aimed at developing favorable economic climate based on normal competitive conditions for economic advancement".

At the meeting, the parties discussed the findings of the "Analysis of the retail market of medicines, products of medical purposes and related goods", completed by the FAS Russia's experts.

The delegation of the National Agency for Protection of Competition of the Moldova Republic also learnt about the leniency programme and the main methods for cartel detection used by the Antimonopoly Service.

Discussion covered the methods of obtaining information from other governmental agencies and interaction procedures, as well as the scope of reference of the competition authority in discovering cartels, assessment of performance and the level of resources of the competition authority, and their sufficiency for effective anti-cartel work.

Representatives of FAS Russia described the key aspects of the enforcement of the Federal Law "On Protection of Competition" and the Federal Law "On State and Municipal Procurement of Goods, Works and Services", and analyzed the situation on the market of services for sanitary and epidemiological testing of alcohol products.

The participants also discussed some aspects of the changes introduced to the legislation of the Russian Federation by the "second antimonopoly package". In particular, the parties discussed the procedures for making available state and municipal property to small businesses, non-governmental organizations and creative associations, and their regulations under Article 17.1 of the Federal Law "On Protection of Competition".

Summing up the meeting, its participants expressed their willingness for further bilateral cooperation and agreed to continue efficient cooperation through further negotiations and exchanging necessary information.