Top 10 regulatory/compliance issues impacting German e-commerce

Every year, the rules shift, the obligations expand, and sellers must figure out how to stay compliant without slowing down their business. The good news is that when you understand the main changes, you stay ahead of problems instead of reacting to them.

Below, you’ll find a breakdown of the biggest regulatory and compliance issues in German e-commerce. Get a clear picture of what changed and how it affects your shop, so you can keep selling confidently in a stricter digital environment.

Stronger market surveillance and customs controls

Germany wants a safer, cleaner e-commerce market, and the government is tightening inspections to get there. The Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology plans to expand the powers of market surveillance authorities so they can take action directly against online platforms when no responsible economic operator is available. That change alone speeds up enforcement and places more responsibility on platforms to screen sellers.

Customs controls are tightening as well. Automated checks, coordinated inspections, and test purchases are all part of the new approach. 

These controls help authorities verify product safety, environmental requirements, and proper documentation for imported goods. It also means sellers using overseas suppliers must keep track of the paperwork behind every product type.

Another detail worth pointing out is the increased responsibility for economic operators to stay contactable during the entire distribution process and, when needed, to appoint an EU-based representative. This is especially relevant for cross-border sellers, because authorities may reach out without warning.

For e-commerce brands, this all leads to a simple reality:

⚠️ Product data must be accurate, documentation must be ready when asked for, and supply chain partners must be transparent.

End of the EUR 150 duty-free limit

The EUR 150 duty-free limit is expected to end quickly, which means inexpensive goods from outside the EU will no longer bypass customs duties. Right now, only import VAT is applied below that threshold. Once the limit disappears, the pricing of lower-cost items becomes more complicated for merchants who depend on small product margins.

Authorities also believe some sellers split shipments into several small parcels to stay under the limit. The plan to abolish the threshold aims directly at that practice. Once duties apply, customs clearance becomes more predictable, because there will be fewer “special case” parcels under that threshold.

⚠️ This shift encourages more transparent supply chains. It also forces sellers to rethink pricing strategies. The low-cost imports market may feel the change first, but any brand working with overseas suppliers should map out how duties shape fulfilment costs.

Digital Services Act enforcement gets real

German e-commerce is feeling the impact of the Digital Services Act more intensely as enforcement ramps up. Authorities want unsafe, illegal, or counterfeit goods off the market. The BMWK is pressing the European Commission to enforce the DSA strictly and remove illegal offers from the EU market. That includes unsafe products, IP infringements, and any listing that violates EU requirements.

The goal is to create a cleaner platform environment. To get there, the European Commission is expected to work more closely with national Digital Services Coordinators and collect data on violations to identify systemic issues (ben 1). When platforms ignore these repeated violations, fines are meant to push them back into compliance.

For sellers, this means quick responses to product takedowns and stronger documentation behind each listing. 

⚠️  Anything related to product safety, certifications, packaging, or usage instructions must be complete and accurate. If a listing gets flagged, reaction time matters. If a seller cannot prove compliance, the platform removes the product. And since platforms face fines, they will tighten their internal rules. So sellers must keep product information neat and accurate to avoid disruptions.

The rise of the Digital Product Pass

The idea behind the Digital Product Pass is simple. Buyers and authorities get quick access to key facts about a product. That includes safety details, sustainability notes, and health-related information. The goal is to build trust and make it easier to verify that a product meets EU standards.

What makes this relevant for regulatory issues in German e-commerce is the obligation it creates on platforms and sellers. Operators of online trading platforms must review this product information for both completeness and plausibility. So no generic placeholder text. No vague descriptions. The information must match the actual product.

For sellers, this becomes another layer of data to maintain. 

⚠️  You need clear documentation that won’t confuse consumers or trigger warnings from platforms. It’s a shift toward transparency. And for many smaller brands, it may require updating product content workflows. The upside is that buyers can make choices with more confidence. The challenge is keeping that product data fresh and correct without making your internal process slower.

Packaging Act: LUCID registration and recycling duties

Germany’s Packaging Act is strict, and the obligations extend across manufacturing, importing, fulfillment, and marketplace selling.

Every seller placing packaged goods on the German market must register in the LUCID database. It applies to both B2C and many B2B packaging categories. Since July 2022, the list of obligatory packaging types expanded to include transport packaging, commercial packaging, and outer packaging in the commercial sector. That means sellers who assumed they were exempt may now fall under the rules.

There are also documentation requirements. Manufacturers and distributors placing packaging on the market must record how much packaging they put into circulation and how much they collect or recycle. This needs to be available for authorities if requested. Many smaller sellers underestimate this step until they get asked for proof.

Then there’s the dual system participation. If the packaging type requires it, distributors must join a waste disposal scheme and pay fees based on the materials used.

The biggest risk is losing access to marketplaces.

⚠️  If you are not properly registered, marketplaces can legally block you from selling until you prove compliance. That’s why this remains one of the most pressing regulatory issues in German e-commerce.

Marketplace and fulfilment provider verification requirements

From July 2022 onward, German marketplaces are obligated to check whether sellers using their platforms comply with the Packaging Act requirements. They must verify that manufacturers and distributors are registered with LUCID and participate in a dual disposal system when necessary. If documents are missing, platforms can block listings immediately. Sellers must provide LUCID confirmation numbers and proof of system participation.

Fulfillment providers face similar duties. They may refuse to stock, pack, or ship products for clients who are not properly registered. This has become a real pressure point because fulfillment companies do not want to assume any compliance risks. If you run an online shop and rely on a third-party logistics partner, you’ll need your packaging documents ready at all times.

The rule is straightforward. Without proper registration, your goods cannot move through the fulfilment chain and cannot appear online. 

⚠️  It acts as a final checkpoint in the regulatory system. And it strongly encourages sellers to keep documentation updated before peak seasons or promotional campaigns.

Consumer rights, withdrawal rules & clear information duties

From January 2023, restaurants, cafés, and bistros selling takeaway food or drinks must offer reusable alternatives to single-use packaging. The rule applies across Germany and aims to cut waste and encourage more sustainable packaging choices.

For e-commerce sellers, this matters if your shop handles takeaway-style food delivery, ready-made meals, or beverage shipments. If you operate a hybrid business, such as a bakery or café with an online shop, these rules also apply to your offline sales. The reusable option must be available at the same standard as the single-use ones. Pricing may differ slightly when a deposit system is used.

There is a small exemption. Businesses with a sales area up to 80 square meters and no more than five employees do not have to provide reusable packaging. They can decide to fill customer-provided containers instead. The exemption helps micro-businesses stay operational without new packaging costs.

The important thing is communication. Customers must know the reusable option exists and how returns work. Many sellers forget to update their online menus or checkout pages. Once the rule is overlooked, compliance issues in German e-commerce start to stack up through customer complaints or local inspections.

The best way to handle it is to add a short, clear note at checkout. 

⚠️  Tell buyers how the reusable packaging works and where they can return it. This keeps your business aligned with environmental rules without slowing down your sales.

Read also: How e-commerce impacts the environment

Data protection tightens again

GDPR enforcement keeps getting sharper in 2025 and 2026, and ecommerce sellers in Germany will feel that shift right away. Regulators want smoother cooperation between national data authorities so investigations move faster and cross-border issues don’t slip through the cracks. There’s also early discussion around forming an EU-wide data protection body focused specifically on online platforms. Nothing final yet, but the direction is unmistakable: more structure, more coordination, and less tolerance for messy data practices.

For ecommerce businesses, the real work happens behind the scenes. Tracking tools must respect consent rules. Cookie banners can’t fire anything before a user actually agrees. Retention periods must be documented, not guessed. And sellers need a clear understanding of every system storing personal data — which tools log IP addresses, who accesses analytics dashboards, and how long an order history stays in the system.

The pain point is consistency. 

⚠️  One outdated script or a sloppy consent setup is enough to attract attention. So, ecommerce teams will spend more time tightening documentation and making sure every tool behaves correctly. Once everything is set up cleanly, daily management gets easier — but reaching that point takes patience.

Accessibility becomes mandatory

June 2025 introduces a new layer of responsibility for digital accessibility in Germany, reflecting a broader regulatory trend toward barrier-free online experiences. For ecommerce sellers, it changes how entire storefronts must function for users with disabilities.

Webshops need to revisit page structure, color contrast, form labels, and interaction patterns. PDFs — especially invoices, product instructions, or return documents — must be accessible too. And checkout flows must be readable and usable with assistive technologies.

The pain point sits in older templates and custom plugins. 

⚠️  Many shops run on legacy themes that don’t meet upcoming standards, so adjustments may require design updates or new components. But accessible shops often convert better because the interface becomes clearer for everyone, not just users relying on assistive tools.

Sustainability & circular economy rules keep expanding

Environmental compliance is growing into a major theme for regulatory issues in German e-commerce. Sellers will deal with more rules tied to packaging, recycling, and reporting over the next two years.

A key milestone: PET beverage bottles must contain at least 25% recycled content starting in 2025. This is a narrow requirement, but it signals how quickly sustainability rules are spreading across product groups. Food and beverage sellers also face reusable packaging obligations for takeaway containers, affecting both online orders and hybrid retail models.

Meanwhile, reporting duties continue to increase. Companies must document packaging types and materials more accurately, and they need reliable annual data for compliance checks.

The pain point comes down to tracking. 

⚠️  Sellers need cleaner internal records and better coordination with suppliers to avoid compliance gaps.

What this means for German e-commerce in 2026

By 2026, compliance issues in German e-commerce will shape almost every operational layer — pricing, logistics, data management, product listings, and sustainability reporting. Imports face tighter checks, checkout experiences must meet accessibility rules, and data practices must stand up to coordinated GDPR scrutiny. 

Sellers who build structured processes for documentation, packaging data, UX updates, and consent management will navigate the landscape smoothly, while those relying on older workflows will feel the pressure as enforcement grows more consistent and more digital.

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