The EU Distance Selling Directive For Merchants

The EU Distance Selling Directive For Merchants

Under the EU Distance Selling Directive, there is an extensive list of information that merchants must provide to their consumers both before and after making a sale to comply with the regulations. These regulations are designed to protect the consumer and ensure they receive adequate and accurate information about products or services that they are purchasing. 

Merchants are required to provide the following information to their consumers prior to the completion of a sale under the EU Distance Selling Directive:

In addition to these pre-sale requirements, as a merchant you must also provide an emailed or printed copy of the consumer’s order confirmation and adequate information on any guarantees or warranties for products purchased, once your consumer has completed the purchase.

There are some transactions that are excluded from the EU Distance Selling Directive’s requirements, these include;

• Clear information on any fees that the consumer will be liable to pay, including agreement from the consumer to pay these fees


• Detailed and accurate information on the product or service your business is selling, outlining key information and features


• Clear statement of the price of products and services


• Information outlining the right to cancel orders and your company’s returns policy, including who would be liable to pay postage if the consumer decides to return an item


• Bold call to action button/s, or clear verbal indication when payment is expected


• Statement of delivery costs before payment


• Explanation of accepted methods of payment for all products


•  A clear statement of the business name and contact information, including a geographical address if payment is taken from the consumer in advance


•  An expected delivery date for items purchased and how your product will be sent to the buyer


In addition to these pre-sale requirements, as a merchant you must also provide an emailed or printed copy of the consumer’s order confirmation and adequate information on any guarantees or warranties for products purchased, once your consumer has completed the purchase.

There are some transactions that are excluded from the EU Distance Selling Directive’s requirements, these include;

• Financial services


• Sale of property, except for some rental cases


• Auctions


• Long term rentals


• Vending machines


• Internet auctions, except if the buyer uses a “Buy It Now” function


• Transactions completed through the use of an operator using a public telephone