3 min overview

Understanding regulations when selling on eBay

As a global marketplace, eBay is always working to understand our sellers' needs including supporting and enabling them to comply with applicable laws and regulations.

We've gathered together some important laws and regulations that you should consider when selling on eBay. While we can help provide guidance, this is not an exhaustive list. It's your responsibility to ensure that you comply with all applicable laws and regulations both domestically and internationally as a seller on eBay. If you have any additional questions about your legal obligations, we recommend you speak to a legal professional for further advice.

Tax & VAT
Environment and sustainability
Consumer protection

Tax & VAT

Sellers are responsible for complying with applicable tax laws. While our pages help provide guidance, eBay can't give tax advice. Contact the appropriate tax authority for more information about your tax obligations.

Tax policy

Understand your tax responsibilities as a seller on eBay.

Your VAT obligations in the UK & EU

If you sell to buyers in the UK or EU, you may be required to register for Value Added Tax (VAT), and to collect VAT on your sales.

UK digital sales reporting

Digital platforms and online marketplaces in the UK, such as eBay, are required to comply with the UK digital sales reporting legislation. Depending on your yearly sales or number of sales transactions, you may need to provide your tax identification information.

CESOP reporting requirements

The Central Electronic System of Payment information (CESOP) Directive is an EU-wide directive for payment service providers, including eBay, to report certain cross-border payments to the EU tax authorities.

Environment and sustainability

We are committed to supporting a more sustainable future for our customers, our company, and our planet. Sellers need to follow all applicable environmental regulations on eBay. See our pages below for more information on regulations around selling certain items.

Single-use plastic products policy

Single-use plastic products are used once, or for a short period of time, before being thrown away. Single-use plastic products are not allowed.

Fertiliser and pesticides policy

Pesticides can pose significant health and safety risks and are regulated by most countries. We have specific rules about selling them on eBay.

Hazardous materials policy

Hazardous materials such as carcinogens, combustibles, explosive precursors, ozone-depleting chemicals, poisons, radioactive materials, and items that contain or release such substances are generally prohibited on eBay.

Energy efficiency labelling

Business sellers are legally required to display energy efficiency or performance information on listings for specific types of electrical items and tyres in the EU, UK, and Switzerland.

Emissions control defeat devices policy

Emissions control defeat devices are mechanisms that are intended to bypass the emission control systems in vehicles. Products that bypass, defeat, or render inoperative emission-control systems are not allowed.

Vehicles, parts and accessories policy

Vehicles, parts and accessories that don't follow government regulations are not allowed.

Understanding Extended Producer Responsibility on eBay

Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) refers to a broad collection of international regulations that extend a producer’s responsibility for a product to the entire life cycle of the product, including waste management. Under EPR, sellers and manufacturers must comply with various environmental regulations when selling certain products.

Consumer protection

Below you'll find links to help you to understand how eBay ensures a safe online experience for our buyers and sellers.

INFORM Consumers Act - opens in new window or tab

The INFORM Consumers Act is a US law that requires online marketplaces to collect, verify, and disclose certain information from high-volume, US based sellers.

Digital Services Act - opens in new window or tab

The Digital Services Act is a comprehensive EU law which addresses online transparency, consumer protection, and illegal content.

Seller disclosures

Business sellers can create seller disclosures to provide buyers with important information about items and take-back policies.

Product safety disclosures and hazardous materials labelling

When you sell products subject to specific safety requirements to buyers in the EU or Northern Ireland, you must follow the requirements of the General Product Safety Regulation (GPSR). When you sell hazardous substances and mixtures to buyers in the EU or the United Kingdom, you must follow the requirements of the Classification, Labelling and Packaging Regulation (CLP).

General Product Safety Regulation - opens in new window or tab

The General Product Safety Regulation (GPSR) is the new European Union product safety rulebook. It requires sellers and other parties in a product's supply chain, including manufacturers and importers, to ensure that only safe products are offered to EU consumers in the EU and Northern Ireland.

Selling products with a CE symbol into Europe

Any CE-marked products that are sold into Europe have to have an EU established economic operator listed on the product or packaging. The economic operator can be a manufacturer, importer, authorised representative or fulfilment service provider based in the EU.

European Accessibility Act for sellers

The European Accessibility Act (EAA) is an EU directive to improve the accessibility of products and services for people with disabilities. As EU countries have created laws based on the EAA directive, business sellers who operate on the EU eBay sites or offer to sell to consumers in the EU must comply with these laws.

Understanding regulations when selling on eBay

Tax & VAT

Environment and sustainability

Consumer protection

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