Stage of legislative progress 

In force

Implementation Act

Act No. 319/2019 amending Section 19 of the Act on Providing Services (1166/2009)

Implementation date 

1 April 2019

Responsible body/bodies (art. 7 (1) GBR)
 MS must designate one or more bodies for its adequate and effective enforcement. This can include courts or administrative authorities (recital 35 GBR).

The Consumer Ombudsman

Enforcement measures (art. 7 (2) GBR)
 MS must lay down rules setting out the measures applicable to infringements. These measures must be effective, proportionate and dissuasive.

The enforcement measures follow the Act on the Finnish Competition and Consumer Authority (661/2012) and the Consumer Protection Act (38/1978), which are assessed to be effective, proportionate and dissuasive enough.

These include injunctions, reinforced by a conditional fine, against a trader. In practice, the conditional fines imposed by the Market Court have varied between 40.000 and 100.000 euros.
The Finnish Government has issued a government bill (HE 54/2019) that sets out a penalty payment which can be up to an amount equaling 4% of the trader’s turnover in the financial year preceding the period of time when the act of infringement has ceased.

Practical assistance (art. 8 GBR)
 MS must designate one or more bodies responsible for providing practical assistance to consumers in the case of a dispute between a consumer and a trader arising from the application of the GBR

The European Consumer Centre Finland, part of the Finnish Competition and Consumer Authority.