OREANDA-NEWS. November 25, 2010. The Commission of the Federal Antimonopoly service (FAS Russia) found that the Social Security Fund of the Russian Federation violating Clause 2 Part 1 Article 15 of the Federal Law “On Protection of Competition” , reported the press-centre of FAS Russia.

The Social Security Fund violated the law by including competition - restricting requirements in the Recommendations for technical assignments to select suppliers of technical rehabilitation means (special devices for reading “talking books” – typhlo flash-players).

FAS Russia initiated the case against the Fund upon a petition of “Cyclon” Ltd.

To eliminate restrictions of competition on the market of typhlo flash-players, the FAS Russia’s Commission issued a determination to the Fund to exclude the following requirements from the Recommendations:

- confirmation of using specialized format of “talking books” with the Act of acceptance of a cryptosecurity key 128 bit, signed on behalf of “Logos” IPTK” Ltd. of the National Disabled Society and the Russian State Library for the Blind;

- presence of dynamic loud-speaker, size no smaller 100 mm;

- using separate network adaptor is not allowed; and

- presence of external telescopic antenna.

The administrative fine upon the violator (an official of the Fund that committed the violation) will be from 15,000 to 30,000 Rubles.

“Our decision will help sight-impaired persons to use all available “talking books” without restrictions related to the cryptosecurity key installed in the equipment determined by the producer agreement and to encourage competition through tenders, which will stimulate producers of typlo flash-players to improve the quality of their products and introduce innovations”, pointed out the Head of the FAS Russia’s Department for Control over Social Sphere and Trade, Timophei Nizhegorodtsev.