Consumer Agency

The Finnish Consumer Agency has a broad scope of responsibility, including virtually all consumer products (goods and services) and all stages of business activity (manufacturing, importing, marketing, sales, contract terms, maintenance, servicing, compensation for defects, billing, payments, collection, debts, environmental issues).

The most significant goals and values mandated by legislation that are meant to be protected through monitoring and promoted through communication and exerting the Agency's influence include

• the consumer's financial security
• smooth functioning of markets and competition, which requires market transparency
• ensuring equitable contracts in consumer retail, where one party is a professional and the other is not

Implementation of these involve the following:

• the consumer's right to receive all essential information in a clear format before making a purchase decision
• recognizable marketing; the consumer's right to know when an attempt is being made to influence him or her commercially
• adherence to best marketing practices
• fair and reasonable contract terms and business transactions at all stages

The Consumer Agency performs numerous supervisory tasks

• Consumer Ombudsman supervisory tasks
• other monitoring of consumer law
• supervision of package travel companies

Education and outreach are also tasks assigned to the Consumer Agency by law. The goal is to produce information that makes product choices and daily life as a consumer easier. The Consumer Agency supports consumer education; conducts and sponsors investigations, comparisons and tests; and publishes the Kuluttaja magazine for consumers. It maintains several Internet services that offer guidance both to entrepreneurs and consumers.

The Consumer Agency provides guidance and training for State Provincial Offices, financial and debt advisers, and consumer advisers.

A course of action combining different methods

In addition to traditional methods (negotiations, sanctions), supervision is carried out by numerous means of communication, cooperation and exerting influence. Supervision aims not only to ensure that laws are followed, but also to safeguard and strengthen consumers’ position in society.