OREANDA-NEWS. July 12, 2011. The Office of the Federal Antimonopoly Service in the Tula region (Tula OFAS Russia) imposed an administrative fine “Tulakhleboproduct” OJSC, “Novomoskovsky Melnichny Kombinat” CJSC and “Tulsky Kombinat Khleboproduktov” OJSC for exercising competition-restricting concerted actions on the market of flour products, reported the press-centre of FAS Russia.

In particular, “Tulsky Kombinat Khleboproduktov” OJSC is fined 2,495,000 Rubles, “Novomoskovsky Melnichny Kombinat” CJSC – 1,908,000 Rubles, and “Tulakhleboproduct” OJSC – 1,150,000 Rubles.

On 28th March 2011, the Commission of Tula OFAS Russia found that “Novomoskovsky Melnichny Kombinat” CJSC, “Tulsky Kombinat Khleboproduktov” OJSC and “Tulakhleboproduct” OJSC violated Clause 1 Part 1 Article 11 of the Federal Law “On Protection of Competition”.

Investigating the case, it became obvious that in July – August 2010 the companies took advantage of panic growth of wheat prices and were simultaneously increasing ex-works prices for wheat flour produced by the companies. As a result, the level of prices on the market of flour wheat in the Tula region was twice as high as in June 2010.

As a consequence bakeries in the Tula region increased their prices for bread and bakery products baked from flour wheat in August – September 2010 by 15%.

Reference:

As of 10th June 2011, the antimonopoly bodies established the facts of violations in 296 cases and imposed turnover fines and other types of fines under the Code of the Russian Federation on Administrative Violations for the overall sum 79.9 million Rubles.