OREANDA-NEWS. March 17, 2010. In April 2010, the Federal Antimonopoly Office (FAS Russia) will inspect the contracts concluded by retain chains with their suppliers in February - March 2010, stated Deputy Head of FAS Russia Andrey Kashevarov speaking at a sessions of the Expert Council on Developing Competition in Retail, reported the press-centre of FAS Russia.

Mr Kashevarov explained the FAS Russia's standpoint: "We will react, without any delay, to how the Law "On Trading", which came into force on 1st February 2010, is observed. Even though penal sanctions for non-compliance has not been improved yet".

"Now there is a transitional period, during which retail chains can adjust their contracts to comply with the new law. In the second part of 2010 we plan to conduct countrywide inspections of retail chains", said Deputy Head of FAS Russia.

According to Mr Kashevarov, FAS Russia received complaints from suppliers about imposing disadvantageous contract conditions in 2008, 2009 and 2010, and is currently inspecting Metro Cash&Carry retail chain.

Mr Kashevarov also pointed out that in the first six months of 2010 the antimonopoly authority would carry out an anonymous survey of suppliers to find out how their relationship with retail chains changed.

Deputy Head of FAS Russia said that on 12th March FAS Russia held another discussion of calculation procedures for determining market shares of retail chains. "We are getting close to forwarding the draft procedures, agreed upon with the Ministry of Industry and Commerce and the Ministry of Economic Development, to the Ministry of Justice for registration. In any case, the market will get ready-to-use procedures by the time the statutory norm comes into force", announced Andrey Kashevarov.

According to Mr Kashevarov, companies can either calculate their shares independently or ask FAS Russia to provide preliminary calculations of their shares. "There will be no mandatory requirement to approach FAS Russia in order to get preliminary calculations of the companies' shares. It will only be done if preferred by a retail chain", informed Deputy Head of FAS Russia.