The consumer ombudsman is demanding that a group called Suomen Apteekkiyhtiöt (Finnish Pharmacy Companies) be required to pay a 100,000-euro fine for violating a ban on misleading telemarketing.
The group, which is registered as an advertising agency, was told in 2017 it would have to pay the fine if it continued to practice misleading advertising.
In 2017, the consumer ombudsman forbade the firm from misleading consumers by using the term "pharmacy," "pharmacy companies," or any other term containing the word "pharmacy" in their telemarketing calls.
The ombudsman says that in 2019 the company also gave the false impression via telemarketing that it is an authorised pharmacy in the vitamin sales market, even though the company does not hold a pharmaceutical license. As such, the ombudsman is demanding a new ban that should be enforced with the threat of a 150,000-euro penalty payment if broken.
Pharmaceutical licenses in Finland are granted by Fimea, the Finnish Medicines Agency.