Kuluttajaviranomaiset

Kuluttajaviranomaiset, literally “the consumer authorities” in Finnish, is a collective term for the government bodies responsible for consumer protection and market regulation in Finland. The term covers the Finnish Competition and Consumer Authority (Kilpailu- ja kuluttajavirasto, KKvA), the central agency tasked with enforcing consumer protection rules and promoting fair competition, as well as other regional or local authorities that carry out related duties.

Key functions include ensuring product safety and compliance, monitoring advertising and sales practices, overseeing consumer contracts and e-commerce, mediating disputes, and providing consumer guidance. They also investigate unfair business practices, fraud, and misleading claims, and may impose sanctions or require corrective action when laws are violated.

Kuluttajaviranomaiset cooperate with national and international partners, including the European Union's CPC Network and the ECC-Net, to address cross-border consumer issues. Public resources, complaint channels, and decisions are typically published online, helping consumers understand their rights and how to seek redress.

In practice, the term is used in official communications and media to refer to the Finnish consumer protection authorities as a whole, and to KKvA in particular, which consolidates several functions related to competition and consumer protection under one agency.