{{Short description|Government-appointed ombudsman in Norway for consumer affairs}} The '''Norwegian Consumer Authority''' ({{langx|no|Forbrukertilsynet}}), formerly the ''Consumer Ombudsman'', is an independent administrative body and the public enforcement authority for [[consumer affairs]] in [[Norway]].

The office was established in 1973 with [[Inger Louise Valle]] as the first holder. It sees to it that the [[marketing]] of [[Good (economics and accounting)|goods]] and [[Service (economics)|services]] is done in accordance with marketing law. Specifically, the authority acts in the interests of consumers to seek to prevent market abuses in conflict with the provisions stipulated in or pursuant to the Norwegian Marketing Control Act.

The Consumer Authority, acting on their own initiative or on the basis of communications from others, encourages all businesspersons to conduct their activities in accordance with the provisions of the Act. They also seeks to ensure that terms and conditions are not used in any way that may harm consumers. The authority received attention internationally since it ruled that the [[iTunes Music Store]]'s contract terms violates Norwegian consumer and marketing law.<ref>[http://www.forbrukerombudet.no/index.gan?id=11032467&subid=0 iTunes violates Norwegian law] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061121163443/http://www.forbrukerombudet.no/index.gan?id=11032467&subid=0 |date=2006-11-21 }}</ref>

The Consumer Authority handles around 8,500 cases each year{{When|date=March 2026}}, both on its own initiative and stemming from [[complaint]]s from consumer and business-holders.<ref>[http://www.forbrukerombudet.no/om-forbrukerombudet] Official website, 'About Us' section (in Norwegian)</ref> Decisions by the ombudsman can be appealed to the Norwegian Market Council.

==References== <references/>

==External links== * [http://www.forbrukerombudet.no/index.gan?id=490&subid= The Consumer Ombudsman and the Market Council]

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[[Category:Government agencies of Norway|Consumer Ombudsman]] [[Category:Ombudsmen in Norway| Consumer]] [[Category:1973 establishments in Norway]] [[Category:Organizations established in 1973]] [[Category:Ombudsman posts]] [[Category:Consumer rights agencies]]

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