Swedish brand Lager 157 was the first brand fined under the Norway Transparency Act, two years after the law went into force. The company was fined GBP 31,600 for failing to respond to information requests on two occasions. The fine is only 0.2% of revenue but indicates that the Norwegian Authority is enforcing the legislation.
- On 17 October, the Norwegian Consumer Protection Authority (CPA) issued its first infringement penalty under the Norway Transparency Act against garment brand Lager 157. The CPA fined the company NOK 450,000 (around GBP 31,600). The CPA found that Lager 157 breached the requirement under the Act to respond to information requests on two occasions about how it addresses human rights impacts. The decision is available in Norwegian. This analysis is based on an unofficial translation.
- The Norway Transparency Act came into force in July 2022. It sets out a duty for companies covered by the Act to (i) conduct human rights due diligence, (ii) publish an annual report on due diligence, and (iii) respond to requests by stakeholders under the right to information provision.
- The CPA opened its first case against Lager 157 in November 2023, on the grounds that the company failed to respond to an information request by the NGO the Future is in Our Hands. In February 2024, the case was closed when Lager 157 recognised that it had not met its obligations and provided evidence that it had taken the actions requested by CPA.
- In April 2024, the company again failed to provide information, this time in response to a request submitted by a private individual. Lager 157 claimed ignorance stating that those handling the request within the company thought it had been submitted by a student for a school project. Lager 157 also claimed that the request had not been properly marked with the words “Transparency Act” in the subject line. However, the CPA found that this text was included in the subject line and that Lager 157 responded to the request more than two months after it was initially sent.
- The CPA found that the company’s actions were negligent, inconsistent with its obligations under the Transparency Act and that repeated violations warrant an administrative fine under Section 14 of the Act.
- Lager 157 was given three weeks to appeal the decision. We do not know if they submitted an appeal.
About the parties
- Lager 157 is a Swedish garment brand with operations in Norway. According to the CPA, its total revenue for 2023 was NOK 223,434,067 (around GBP 16 million). The fine amounted to 0.2% of the annual revenue.
- Future in our Hands is an NGO. It was one of the key campaigners for the Transparency Act and it provides tips for consumers on how to use the right to information provision.