Website Requirements for Online Shops
Order buttons, withdrawal rights, price display rules, payment security. Running a webshop in the EU comes with legal requirements that many shop owners miss.
Common issues for online shops
Order button text matters
EU law requires your "Buy" button to clearly indicate a payment obligation. "Order with obligation to pay" or similar wording is required in many countries.
14-day withdrawal right
Customers can return most products within 14 days without giving a reason. Your website must clearly explain this before checkout.
Price display rules
Prices must include VAT. Discount claims must show the lowest price from the past 30 days (Omnibus Directive).
Product photos and copyright
Using manufacturer photos without permission, or stock photos of products you sell, can trigger copyright claims.
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Key issues
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Areas checked
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Guides
Real-world enforcement
The EU Consumer Protection Cooperation network (CPC) took coordinated action against 118 online shops in 2024 for violating the Omnibus Directive pricing rules — displaying fake discounts without showing the lowest price from the past 30 days. In Germany, competitors regularly send Abmahnungen to webshops with order buttons that don't meet requirements, costing €500–€1,500 per letter.
Official resources
We run the same complete check on every website. The guides below highlight which issues come up most often for each type of business.
Guides for online shops
Order Button Rules for Irish Webshops (CRA 2022 s.108)
Section 108 of the Irish Consumer Rights Act 2022 mandates a clear 'obligation to pay' label on the checkout button. Get it wrong and the order is not binding.
EU 14-Day Right of Withdrawal: Rules, Exceptions & Refunds
EU 14-day right of withdrawal explained: when it starts, 8 exemptions, 14-day refund deadline, 12-month penalty for not informing buyers.
Cookie Banner Requirements Under EU Law (2026 Guide)
Cookie banner requirements in the EU 2026: reject equal to accept, no dark patterns, prior consent. EDPB Guidelines 05/2020 explained.
EAA for Irish small businesses: SI 636/2023 compliance
EAA small business guide for Ireland: S.I. 636/2023, micro-enterprise exemption, CRO disclosure, WCAG 2.1 AA and CCPC expectations.
GDPR compliance checklist for Irish businesses (2026)
GDPR compliance checklist for Irish businesses. DPC enforcement, DPA 2018, ePrivacy Regs 2011, CRO disclosure, cookie consent and processor agreements.
ODR Platform Abolished: Remove the Link From Your Website
ODR platform abolished July 2025. If your website still links to the EU Online Dispute Resolution platform, here is what to do.
Website Security Checklist: 10 Things to Check Today
A practical security checklist for small business websites. 10 things you can check and fix today without technical expertise.
Accessibility Statement Template for Irish Businesses
What an accessibility statement must contain for an Irish business website under S.I. 636 of 2023, where to point complainants, and a template you can adapt.
Irish Discount Pricing: The 30-Day Prior Price Rule
The Irish 30-day prior price rule (S.I. 597 of 2022) explained. How to label discounts legally, what the CCPC enforces, where webshops trip up.
Safe Free Stock Photos for Irish Business Websites
Free image sources that are actually safe for Irish business websites, what the licences allow, and how the Irish Copyright and Related Rights Act 2000 fits.
Irish Right to Cancel Online: 14 Days under CRA 2022
Ireland's 14-day right to cancel online purchases: CRA 2022 and S.I. 484/2013, when it starts, 8 exceptions, refunds, CCPC enforcement.
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