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Ukrainian anti-monopoly committee fined Pest Control Ltd for $6,296
Press-service of Ukraine's Anti-Monopoly Committee (AMC) has reported that AMC has fined company Pest Control Ltd (Ireland), operating in the market of export grain cargos fumigation, for UAH34,000 (US$6,296) for untimely and incomplete provision of information needed by AMC to conduct investigation as for probable valuations by the company of anti-monopoly legislation.
As it is noted in AMC's report, the decision about penal sanctions, imposed on the company, is just an intermediate one. If the company keeps on further neglecting Ukraine's legislative regulations and refuses to cooperate with state authorities, the Committee will assume measures to suspend its activities on the territory of Ukraine. The investigation is due to be completed in mid-November.
The report proceeds that since the moment of Pest Control Ltd emergence in Ukrainian market, indications of a monopoly formation have suggested themselves in the company's activities: using obtained in an unfair way privileges, it has set monopoly-high prices for its services, being strategic for Ukrainian market.
Owing to an increase in grain export potential of Ukraine, the case has assumed a state-priority level, the AMC says. However, its investigation has been dragged on, because of unconcealed ignoring by the company inquiries of AMC. Pest Control has either failed to provide any information, needed for AMC's investigation, or has provided it in an incomplete format.
The report refers to AMC Head Olexiy Kostusev as saying: "Ukrainian grain exporters have found themselves in a monopoly trap: on the one hand grain disinfection is an obligatory requirement of export transportation rules, on the other hand, such fumigation is provided only by Pest Control Ltd."