March 17, 2026 •

Sellers on E.U. marketplaces face heightened identity checks, contract disclosures, and suspension risk. The changes stem from the Digital Services Act , enacted by the European Commission in 2022 and enforceable as of February 2024, governing how online “intermediaries” handle illegal products.

The growth of such products is dramatic. Across all intermediaries — marketplaces, ecommerce sites, social media platforms, app stores — E.U. authorities in 2023 seized 152 million illegal items worth €3.4 billion ($3.9 billion), versus 66 million and €1.5 billion in 2020 ( PDF ).

Seller Verification

The DSA requires marketplaces to verify sellers’ identities before allowing them to offer goods to E.U. consumers. Sellers provide:

Business registration documents

VAT or tax identification numbers

Physical address

Email and phone contact details

Self-certification confirming that products comply with E.U.…