Selling online to consumers in the EU

A key element in relation to protecting consumers from unsafe consumer goods is the growth of e-commerce. Online marketplaces have many benefits for consumers but carry additional risks. The basic rule is that whatever protection consumers enjoy does not change whether products are purchased in a physical shop or online.

This module will help you to understand the EU’s requirements in relation to online sales and the specific implications on product safety. Newly introduced market surveillance rules will have particular implications for anyone selling online into the EU market.

At the end of this module, you will be able to understand:

• the Directive relating to the new market surveillance rules
• the importance of having someone in the EU to represent your business
• the obligation of traders to supply safe products when selling online to EU consumers
• the range of checks that traders can undertake to ensure products supplied by manufacturers are safe to sell