Polish online retailers who want to sell their goods in the European Union have their task made easier in some respects. E-commerce regulations are largely based on EU legislation and are universally applicable within the EU.

European regulations for the e-commerce industry

Let us start with the similarities that result from uniform laws. Here are the main rules governing the e-commerce market:

• 14 days to process complaints – a standard obligation for online retailers operating in the European Union.
• Obligation to quote the lowest price for an item within the last 30 days – based on the Omnibus Directive.
• Warranty – buyers have up to two years to prove that goods are not in conformity with the contract.
• Disclosure obligations – the seller must inform customers whether it is a business, whether it uses paid advertising, as well as provide its address.
• 14 days to withdraw from the contract – the customer may opt to do so without giving a reason.
• Returns and complaints clauses in the terms and conditions – a requirement for every online retailer. To ensure that these are handled efficiently, Innoship offers an automated delivery and returns allocation system that supports effective process management.
• Personal data protection – GDPR rules apply throughout the European Union.

Selling online to markets outside the European Union

Polish online retailers may also wish to expand their business outside the European Union. This is more difficult, however, as they need to become familiar with local e-commerce regulations, which may differ significantly from EU laws. Also, shipments outside the European Union are usually not VAT exempt and some parcels may be subject to customs duties. These duties are then the responsibility of the buyer. For these reasons, it is best to develop cross-border e-commerce primarily within the European Union.