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ARMENIA'S ANTITRUST AGENCY LEAVES UNFAIR ENTREPRENEURS WITH NO ROOM FOR MANEUVERING
/ARKA/
May 10, 2011
YEREVAN
Armenian State Commission for Protection of Economic Competition has
come up with legislative initiatives in an effort to force economic
entities to do business above board, Artak Shaboyan, head of the
commission, said Tuesday at the first meeting of the commission
affiliated public council.
He said that sanctions for illegalities would be tightened, and
offenders would be punished. Punishment will depend on gravity of
offences.
Shaboyan said that now AMD 500,000 fine is intended for businessmen
involved in unfair competition. That is why entrepreneurs prefer to
pay such a small fine instead of doing fair business.
"During discussions in the Parliament, we proposed an important change
referring to abuse of domination and anticompetitive collusions,"
Shaboyan said. Under the amended law, wrongdoers will not only be
fined, but will also be left without the surplus profits they gain
from raising prices without proper justification.
The head of the commission also said that new instruments would be
applied for strengthening the evidence base necessary for probable
disputes over the commission's decisions in court.
Shaboyan said that the commission will take into account not only
quantitative, but also qualitative criteria.
"Very often, large economic entities, knowing about quantitative
criteria, engage in an activity under two or three names to avoid
responsibility."
He said that dominance of an economic entity occupying one third of
the market would be undisputable.
Besides, if an administrative procedure is launched against an economic
entity, it can't be dissolved without the commission's permission.
From: A. Papazian
/ARKA/
May 10, 2011
YEREVAN
Armenian State Commission for Protection of Economic Competition has
come up with legislative initiatives in an effort to force economic
entities to do business above board, Artak Shaboyan, head of the
commission, said Tuesday at the first meeting of the commission
affiliated public council.
He said that sanctions for illegalities would be tightened, and
offenders would be punished. Punishment will depend on gravity of
offences.
Shaboyan said that now AMD 500,000 fine is intended for businessmen
involved in unfair competition. That is why entrepreneurs prefer to
pay such a small fine instead of doing fair business.
"During discussions in the Parliament, we proposed an important change
referring to abuse of domination and anticompetitive collusions,"
Shaboyan said. Under the amended law, wrongdoers will not only be
fined, but will also be left without the surplus profits they gain
from raising prices without proper justification.
The head of the commission also said that new instruments would be
applied for strengthening the evidence base necessary for probable
disputes over the commission's decisions in court.
Shaboyan said that the commission will take into account not only
quantitative, but also qualitative criteria.
"Very often, large economic entities, knowing about quantitative
criteria, engage in an activity under two or three names to avoid
responsibility."
He said that dominance of an economic entity occupying one third of
the market would be undisputable.
Besides, if an administrative procedure is launched against an economic
entity, it can't be dissolved without the commission's permission.
From: A. Papazian