The Antimonopoly Committee of Ukraine is actively engaged in resolving issues related to the regulation of the operation of service establishments at the local level. According to information from the press service of the AMCU, at a meeting on February 13, 2025, the committee approved detailed recommendations for local councils on establishing rules and the mode of their operation. The main purpose of such recommendations is to ensure compliance with legislative norms regulating economic competition.

According to the recommendations established by the AMCU, it is important that the actions of local self-government bodies do not become an obstacle to the development of a competitive environment. The Committee has clearly defined which actions are considered anti-competitive under current legislation, in particular, this concerns the grounds for considering violations specified in the Law of Ukraine "On Protection of Economic Competition".

The AMCU also focused on the methods used when assessing the compliance of actions of local authorities with the legislation on the protection of economic competition. This includes the process of approval and establishment of the operating regime of service establishments. At the same time, it is emphasized that local councils must comply with competition legislation in the process of adopting regulatory decisions.

The AMCU's explanatory work was a response to the identified violations of legislative requirements by local authorities. Particular attention was paid to cases of forced imposition of unnecessary administrative restrictions on business structures that do not have an appropriate legal basis, for example, requirements for the installation of video surveillance systems or the provision of unnecessary documents.

An important point emphasized in the AMCU's explanations is the principle of establishing the operating regime of service establishments "by agreement with the owners", which is fundamental in ensuring the rights of businesses to compete freely. Such an approach stimulates economic development and does not allow interference in the activities of enterprises by authorities without proper legal basis.

In conclusion, it should be noted that Ukrainian legislation does not grant local councils the authority to regulate the operating hours of service establishments that are not municipally owned. This emphasizes the importance of maintaining clarity and transparency in regulatory decision-making at the local level, contributing to the creation of conditions for the effective functioning of market relations.