Laws and regulations

Belgian partner sellers on Dutch platform Bol.com have complained about coercive contracts and the abuse of power by the platform. The platform is said to ask for information about suppliers and a large revenue share. A member of the federal parliament has called for a hearing.

The European Commission has launched the co-creation process for the transition of the retail ecosystem. It represents the first step towards accelerating the green and digital transformation of the retail and wholesale sector, according to EuroCommerce.

Following Zalando, Amazon has also lodged a legal objection against its classification as a Very Large Online Platform (VLOP) in Europe. “Amazon does not fit this description under the DSA”, the company states.

Member states of the European Union collected 20 billion euros in VAT revenue last year through new ecommerce VAT portals. According to the European Commission, this demonstrates the success of the new filing options.

Ecommerce giant Amazon is imperceptibly tracking visitors' online behavior after they leave the marketplace. Even when they did not give permission for cookies to be placed. The Dutch Foundation for Data Protection (SDBN) is starting a mass claim, as at least five million Dutch customers have been duped.

Online stores in Switzerland will not be mandated to charge for the return of goods. The Swiss National Council has rejected a motion proposing a returns fee. The obligation would be an encroachment on economic freedom.

French activists urge for legislative and regulatory measures against Shein, the fast fashion giant from China that is rapidly expanding in Europe. The activists are concerned about Shein's impact on the planet. "Behind the €2 t-shirts or €9 dresses lies an unbearable operating system that destroys the environment and human rights," they state.

The European Commission is planning to impose import duties on goods up to 150 euros, which are currently exempted. Brussels has previously abolished VAT exemptions. These measures strengthen the position of traders within the Union.

During a plenary session, the European Parliament approved revised rules on product safety of non-food consumer products. According to the new rules, products from outside the EU can be sold on the market if an economic operator in the EU is responsible for its safety.

Popular marketplace Wish is once again available in France. A year and a half ago, the state delisted the platform because of unsafe products. Now, the marketplace can be found in the biggest search engines and app stores again.

Seventeen European trade organizations have recently published an open letter to the European Union to express their disapproval of a new withdrawal button. This button allows consumers to undo a transaction after placing an order. “This button exceeds its purpose”, said Marlene ten Ham of Dutch ecommerce association Thuiswinkel.org.

The European Union is implementing the Digital Services Act and the Digital Market Act, which impact online marketplaces and social media platforms. This package of rules will create a safer digital space for users and fight rogue sellers.

Nearly 40 percent of online shops in Europe uses so-called ‘dark patterns’. These are ways of encouraging customers into making a purchase under false pretenses, such as hiding costs and false countdowns.

Online marketplaces such as Amazon, eBay and Vinted will now have to report sales made on their platforms by end users to the tax office. This is part of a new EU law. Private sellers will be reported when they make over 2,000 euros or have over 30 transactions per year.

Google will provide more transparency for consumers buying products through the company’s ecommerce platforms, such as the Google Store. The tech giant is doing so to comply with rules set by the European Union. However, the company still breaches EU laws on geo-blocking.