THEAntitrust Italian fines two companies for having "unduly equated the masks U-Mask to FFP3 devices, in addition to having boasted a non-existent approval by the Ministry of Health”. The authority writes it in a note, specifying that the fine amounts to 450mila euros and that the companies affected are U-Earth Biotech and Pure Air Zone Italy.
For over a year, the two companies "promoted the "U-Mask" biotech surgical masks (in the "Model 2", "Model 2.1" and "Model 2.2" versions) on the internet, registered as medical devices, unduly equating them to filtering facepieces with superior protective efficacy, such as class FFP3 personal protective equipment, and attributing them additional qualities, for example virucidal properties and a duration of 200 hours, certified on the basis of tests carried out independently", continues the note.
Not only that: "Until the end of February 2021, the general contract conditions were only available in English and a non-existent approval of the mask by the Ministry of Health and of the Istituto Superiore di Sanità”, continues the Antitrust. According to the Authority, the two companies acted "in deceptive and aggressive ways", endangering the health of customers.
Finally, again until the end of last February, U-Earth Biotech and Pure Air Zone Italy did not provide the necessary information on the consumer's right of withdrawal, on the legal guarantee of conformity and on the possibility of using an extra-judicial complaint mechanism and appeal.
"Considering the seriousness and duration of the violations of the Consumer Code and also the high number of consumers involved due to the use of the internet - concludes the note - the Authority has jointly and severally imposed on U-Earth Biotech and Pure Air Zone Italy administrative fines of 400.000 euros for unfair commercial practices and 50.000 euros for illicit conduct relating to consumer rights in contracts”.
