Finnish Competition and Consumer Authority

The first consumer council was formed in 1965. Since 1974, the consumer co-ordination council had been part of the Ministry of Trade and Industry (currently the Ministry of Employment and Economy). One result of this Council is the establishment of the Finnish Consumer Agency. However, its roots may be found in 1957, when the Social Democratic Women's Association established a Home Counselling Alliance. The women's organizations and representatives of the household for both co-operative movements were active representatives of these governmental consumer bodies. Consequently, stakeholders and pressure groups from women's organizations and consumer co-operatives addressed the empowerment of consumers.[3]

The Finnish Competition Authority was established in 1988 and it used to operate under the Ministry of Trade and Industry. Its aim was to protect sound and effective economic competition and to increase economic efficienсy by promoting competition and abolishing competition restraints.[4]

Now both aforementioned agencies have been working together as the FCCA since 1 January 2013. With all functional differences between competition and consumer policies, both divisions aim to maintain the market order that consumers trust, and that creates incentives for economic growth.

During the preliminary study that preceded the submission of the legislative proposal regarding the merger, several grounds for the merger were put forward in addition to the explicit savings targets in respect of support functions and the costs of premises. There are some reasons for the merge:[5]

1. the functions of the agencies are connected with the markets, and there were also similarities in the agencies’ objectives;
2. the need to increase and use cross-sector specific expertise;
3. the need to develop the research function;
4. the aim to increase the social weight and influence of competition and consumer affairs and to make their administration more effective.

The departments which operate under competition affairs:

• Enforcement 1, headed by Assistant Director Maarit Taurula
• Enforcement 2, headed by Assistant Director Valtteri Virtanen
• Enforcement 3, headed by Assistant Director Sanna Syrjälä
• Advocacy Unit, headed by Assistant Director Arttu Juuti
• International Affairs, headed by Assistant Director Rainer Lindberg

The following departments and functions deal with consumer affairs:

• Consumer Protection 1, headed by Assistant Director Miina Ojajärvi
• Consumer Protection 2, headed by Assistant Director Outi Haunio-Rudanko
• Consumer Protection 3, headed by Assistant Director Päivi Seppälä
• Advisory services, headed by Director Maija Puomila

Moreover, the following departments operate directly under the Director General:

• Market Research, Research Director Martti Virtanen
• Communication, Director Laura Salmi
• Administration, Head of Administration Anna Saharinen

The new Act on Procurement and Concession Contracts (1397/2016) gave the FCCA the authority to monitor compliance with the legislation on public procurement from the beginning of 2017. The Act on Public Contracts in Special Sectors covers procurements by contracting entities operating in the water, energy, transport and postal service. The Defence and Security Procurements Act is applicable to defence and security procurements. ln addition, the Act on Public Contracts contains sector-specific rules оп social and health services, and certain other service procurements. As а Member State от the European Union, Finland is subject to the applicable EU legislation on public procurement. Finland has implemented the latest EU directives on public procurement, i.e. Directive 2014/24/EU on public procurement, Directive 2014/25/EU on procurement by entities operating in the water, energy, transport and postal services sectors and Directive 2014/23/EU on the award of concession contracts.

The objective of procurement supervision is to ensure the implementation of the key principles of procurement legislation, such as openness and non-discrimination, in procurement. In the supervision of procurement, the FCCA's focus is primarily on the monitoring of illegal direct procurement and other corresponding procurements conducted in a blatantly erroneous or discriminatory manner. According to the Act on Procurement and Concession Contracts, the FCCA must draw up an annual report on its supervision of public procurements. The report on the first year of procurement supervision includes a summary of illegal activities observed by the FCCA during its procurement supervision operations, and of the measures referred to in the Act on Public Contracts.

It is important to mention that anyone who considers that a contracting entity has contravened the procurement legislation may submit a request to the FCCA for measures to investigate the legality of the procedure. Damages claims can be sought in civil proceedings.

In the field of the merger control the FCCA gives its permission to the deals concerning economic concentration. For example, the FCCA has approved the acquisition of Onninen Oy by Kesko Corporation,[8] the sale of Stockmann Delicatessen in Finland to S Group's three regional cooperatives and SOK.[9]

The Consumer Ombudsman selects a measure enabling the best possible effectiveness to be achieved in light of the situation with the resources available. Options include, for example:

• Provision of information to the company or entire sector;
• Consumer education;
• Cooperation with and lobbying of the industry organisation to change the practices of companies;
• Request for clarification sent to the individual company in question;
• Request for commitment from the company;
• Prohibition;
• Petition to the Market Court;
• Consumer assistance in court;
• Collective complaint;
• Class action.