OREANDA-NEWS.  October 03, 2014. The Ministry of Emergencies and FAS Russia had a press-conference on the state of competition on the market of fire-fighting monitoring systems.

Director of the Department for Supervision and Prevention, major-general of the Interior, Victor Klimkin; the Head of FAS Anti-Cartel Department, Andrey Tenischev; the Head of R&D Centre for Modeling Emergency Situations on Facilities of Crucial Importance (the Situational Centre), Alexander Varlamkin; and Deputy Head of FAS Anti-Cartel Department, Konstantin Alyoshin, took part in the event.

Andrey Tenischev reported on completing an investigation of a case against Argus-Spektr” CJSC - a producer of equipment for fire-fighting monitoring systems and its dealers upon elements of violating the antimonopoly law.

“Last week FAS found that “Argus-Spektr” and its 68 dealers violated Part 2 Article 11 of the Federal Law “On Protection of Competition”. The FAS Commission found that agreements concluded by the company with its dealers provided for fixing minimum resale prices, which, in view of their market share, constitutes a direct violation of the antimonopoly law. FAS started administrative proceedings against the company, as the result of which turnover fines will be determined”, said Andrey Tenischev.

“Investigating the case against economic entities operating on such socially important market as fire preventing, we always consult with the Ministry of Emergencies”, emphasized Andrey Tenischev.

Victor Klimkin pointed out that “Strelets-Monitoring” Software-Hardware Package adopted by the Ministry is compatible with various solutions from Russian producers of fire alarm devices and systems.

Answering the question on possible discrepancies between the Ministry of Emergencies and FAS Russia on antimonopoly regulation of the industry, participants arrived to the common opinion that such situations are impossible.

“We work in close cooperation and do the real work together: FAS watches enforcement of the antimonopoly law and the Ministry of Emergencies is involved in ensuring safety of the population, particularly, fire safety”, pointed out Victor Klimkin. “Any statements about discrepancies between the two authorities are inappropriate”.