ON THE RESULTS OF THE ANTIMONOPOLY AGENCY WORK FOR JANUARY-SEPTEMBER, 2018

In accordance with the assigned functions, one of the key tasks of the MART as an antimonopoly agency is to counteract monopolistic activities and unfair competition, identify and prevent violations of the antimonopoly law, and promote the development of fair competition.

301 applications from economic entities were received by the Ministry of Antimonopoly Regulation and Trade of the Republic of Belarus for January-September, 2018 within the ongoing monitoring of the compliance with the antimonopoly law. 

The Commission on Establishing Fact (Absence) of  Antimonopoly Law Violation found 17 cases of violations and 53 cases of absence violations of the Law of the Republic of Belarus dated December 12, 2013 “On Counteraction of Monopolistic Activity and Competition Development”.

For reference: out of 17 cases of antimonopoly law violations, 2 cases are connected with the prohibition on abusing a dominant position by an economic entity, 1 case – the prohibition on competition-restricting agreements, 7 cases – the prohibition on unfair competition, 7 cases –  the prohibition on acts and actions (omissions), agreements, coordinated actions of state bodies that restrict competition.

According to the results of the antimonopoly investigations for 9 months of 2018, 56 protocols on administrative offenses in the field of antimonopoly regulation were drawn up, 18 orders were issued, the amount of penalties amounted to 94,3 thousand rubles.

274 administrative procedures were implemented for January-September, 2018 as part of the state control of economic concentration in order to prevent the establishment and strengthening of a dominant position in commodity markets. Thus, as to 173 administrative procedures, the antimonopoly body issued consents for:

• transactions with shares, shares in the statutory funds of economic entities - 115 (66,5%);
• reorganization of commercial entities in the form of mergers and acquisitions - 46 (26,6%);
• establishment of a holding company - 7 (4,0%);
• reorganization of economic entities occupying a dominant position in commodity markets - 4 (2,3%);
• establishment of a commercial organization - 1 (0,6%).
   

In order to assess the level of monopolization of commodity markets, the MART experts analyzed 44 commodity markets for 9 months of 2018. As a result of the analysis:

• 316 economic entities are included in the State Register of Economic Entities Occupying a Dominant Position in Commodity Markets, with 64 excluded;
• 3 economic entities are included in the State Register of Natural Monopoly Entities, with 6 excluded.