The agency continues to analyze chicken egg pricing throughout the supply chain.
The Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS) of Russia continues to investigate the pricing of chicken eggs, has already checked producers and has now started checking federal retail chains, as reported by the agency's website.
Such retailers as Perekrestok, Magnit, Dixy, Pyaterochka, Lenta, O'Key, Metro, Auchan and others will be inspected in the regions.
"The inspections are conducted to detect anti-competitive agreements between retail chains, which may have led to an increase in the cost of socially important goods. Among other things, prices for hen's eggs in purchases under long-term contracts and tenders, information on purchase and sales volumes, etc., are checked,"
FAS explained.
The antitrust watchdog also reminded that regardless of the market situation, participants in the entire commodity chain "must adhere to responsible, socially-oriented behavior and prevent unjustified price increases for goods."
FAS initiated ten cases against egg producers for violation of antimonopoly legislation, the head of the service Maxim Shaskolsky reported on February 28.
In 2023, eggs in Russia, according to Rosstat, rose in price 1.6 times, in December — by 18.2%. Amid such a sharp increase, the government has zeroed the duty on egg imports for the first half of this year. It is expected that this measure will allow importing 1.2 billion eggs and stabilize the price situation. Now eggs from Azerbaijan, Belarus and Turkey are supplied to Russia.
Source: FAS
