At the 59th session of the Interstate Council on Antimonopoly Policy, head of Russia’s Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS) Maxim Shaskolsky outlined recent regulatory initiatives aimed at strengthening competition and curbing monopolistic practices across key sectors.
During his address, Shaskolsky presented examples of recent FAS decisions to antitrust regulators from Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) member states. He noted that current Russian legislation exempts intellectual property results from antimonopoly restrictions, a loophole that, according to FAS, negatively impacts product markets.
To close this gap, the agency drafted amendments to the Law on Protection of Competition, which have been endorsed by the Ministry of Digital Development, the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Ministry of Economic Development, and Rospatent. The proposed legislation aims to ensure stronger market competition safeguards.
Shaskolsky also highlighted the adoption of Russia’s National Competition Development Plan for 2026–2030, which sets out measures across eight key sectors — agriculture, IT and telecom, finance, healthcare, transport, industry, trade, and tourism. The plan calls for regional “roadmaps” to promote competition, preventive measures against discriminatory practices, and expanded cooperation with BRICS and SCO antitrust authorities.
Another major reform took effect on September 1, 2025, when amendments to the Trade Law prohibited retail chains from penalizing suppliers for under-delivering beyond agreed contract volumes — a step aimed at protecting suppliers’ contractual freedom and ensuring fair consumer prices.
In the pharmaceutical sector, the FAS issued several warnings to companies imposing unjustified economic and technical requirements on partners, including conditions on market share, procurement volumes, and revenue. The companies have since complied and removed the clauses from their commercial policies.
The agency is also scrutinizing airport pricing, especially for drinking water, amid investigations in 28 regions. Four cases have been opened over alleged monopolistic overpricing, and FAS has recommended airports install free drinking water stations in passenger areas — an initiative already supported by 33 airports.
Promoting exchange trading in agricultural products remains a strategic focus. Following FAS directives, market participants must sell at least 10% of their output via commodity exchanges, allowing smaller firms to buy directly from major producers.
Shaskolsky concluded by announcing that the 10th International Conference on Antimonopoly Policy: Science, Practice, Education will take place in Moscow on November 12–13, featuring a global forum on cartels, and invited CIS antitrust officials to participate.
Source: FAS
