FAS will check if butter producers have cartel agreements

On-site inspections will be carried out in Moscow, Omsk, Izhevsk, Barnaul, Vologda and Sverdlovsk regions. The measures were initiated following calls from citizens regarding the increase in butter prices; however, final conclusions will be drawn solely based on the results of verification activities.

Cartel agreements (agreements that lead to “increasing, decreasing or maintaining prices at auctions”) are prohibited by the Law “On Protection of Competition.” The violation threatens companies with a turnover fine of up to 0.15% of the proceeds from the sale of goods or the amount of acquisition costs. There is a corresponding article in the Criminal Code of Russia, according to which the maximum penalty is a prison sentence of up to seven years.

According to the Rosstat consumer price index from November 26 to December 2 of this year, butter prices in 2024 increased by 33%, and during the indicated week – by 1.2%.

To combat rising butter prices, at the request of Russia, the Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC) on November 29 approved a tariff benefit for Armenia and Russia in the form of exemption from import duties on imported butter. The measure will be in effect until mid-June 2025. For Russia, the duty-free import quota will not exceed 25 thousand tons.