Healty market

The State Provincial Office controls the legality of product and service price information and of price advertising. It also performs price comparisons to increase the price consciousness of consumers. The objective is to promote the consumer’s financial security.

The State Provincial Office also manages the regional availability of financial advice and debt advice. The State Provincial Office makes agreements with municipalities on arranging services and distributes Finnish Consumer Agency funding to the municipalities for guidance services. It also supports municipalities in organizing the services and monitors their quality and volume.

The State Provincial Office supervises the operation of real estate and rental agencies and thus adds to the legal protection of customers.

The State Provincial Office controls the functioning of the market. It clarifies local and regional restraints on competition and grants exceptions to opening hours in the retail sales sector. The State Provincial Office participates in cartel studies and cartel inspections carried out by the Finnish Competition Authority. The aim is for the operators on the market to be aware of competition regulations and undertake to promote competition in their businesses.

The duties of consumer protection and competition supervision

• competition supervision and investigation of competition conditions;
• consumer education, price comparison, consumer information;
• ensuring adequate financial advice and debt advice;
• inspection and supervision duties (including the supervision of real estate and rental agencies, price marking, consumer credits, weights and measures marking and registration of package tour operators);
• exceptions to opening hours in the retail sales sector.