tools-only EU Impressum Requirements
Jurisdiction: European Union (27 Member States)
Related Skills:
- SKILL.md - Austrian requirements (main skill)
- SKILL-GERMANY.md - German requirements
- SKILL-WORLD.md - International requirements
This skill covers EU-wide legal notice requirements based on the eCommerce Directive.
1. Legal Framework
Primary EU Legislation
| Directive/Regulation | Article | Scope |
|---|---|---|
| eCommerce Directive 2000/31/EC | Art. 5 | Information requirements |
| Digital Services Act (DSA) | Various | Platform transparency |
| GDPR | Art. 13-14 | Privacy notices |
| Consumer Rights Directive 2011/83/EU | Art. 6 | B2C online sales |
| ODR Regulation 524/2013 | Art. 14 | Dispute resolution link |
| Services Directive 2006/123/EC | Art. 22 | Service provider info |
eCommerce Directive Art. 5 Requirements
All EU member states must ensure service providers make available:
| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| Name | Full name or business name |
| Address | Geographic address (establishment) |
| Electronic contact details | |
| Trade register | Registration number if applicable |
| Regulatory authority | If subject to authorization |
| VAT ID | If VAT registered |
| Professional body | For regulated professions |
| Professional title | And member state where granted |
| Professional rules | Reference and means of access |
| Prices | Clear indication including taxes |
2. Country-by-Country Requirements
Comparison Matrix
| Country | National Law | Key Differences |
|---|---|---|
| Austria | § 5 ECG | + MedienG Offenlegung for media |
| Germany | § 5 DDG | + MStV for journalistic content |
| France | LCEN Art. 6-III | + Publication director (directeur) |
| Italy | D.Lgs. 70/2003 Art. 7 | + Chamber of commerce registration |
| Spain | LSSI Art. 10 | + Geographic coordinates optional |
| Netherlands | Art. 3:15d BW | + Chamber of commerce number |
| Belgium | Art. XII.6 WER | + Enterprise number (BCE) |
| Poland | Art. 18 UŚUDE | + NIP and REGON numbers |
| Sweden | Lag 2002:562 | Relatively minimal requirements |
| Ireland | SI 68/2003 | + Company registration office |
Detailed Country Notes
France (LCEN)
Additional requirements:
- Directeur de publication (publication director) - mandatory
- Hébergeur (hosting provider) contact details
- Capital social for companies
Mentions légales
Éditeur:
Exemple SARL
123 Rue de l'Exemple
75001 Paris
Directeur de la publication:
Jean Dupont
Hébergeur:
OVH SAS
2 rue Kellermann
59100 Roubaix
Italy
Additional requirements:
- Codice fiscale (tax code)
- Partita IVA (VAT number)
- REA number (chamber of commerce)
- Capitale sociale (share capital) + "i.v." or "n.i.v."
Netherlands
Additional requirements:
- KvK-nummer (Chamber of Commerce number)
- BTW-nummer (VAT number)
Belgium
Additional requirements:
- Ondernemingsnummer/Numéro d'entreprise (BCE/KBO number)
- BTW/TVA nummer
3. VAT Requirements
When VAT ID is Required
| Scenario | VAT ID Required |
|---|---|
| Registered for VAT | Yes |
| Intra-EU B2B sales | Yes |
| B2C cross-border sales | Yes (if VAT registered) |
| Below VAT threshold, domestic only | Optional |
One-Stop Shop (OSS)
For B2C cross-border digital services:
- Registration in one EU country
- Report and pay VAT for all EU sales
- Display VAT ID on website
4. ODR (Online Dispute Resolution)
Requirement (Regulation 524/2013)
For B2C online sales, traders must:
- Provide link to EU ODR platform
- Display prominently on website
- Include if email is used for contracts
Template Text
Online Dispute Resolution
The European Commission provides a platform for online dispute resolution (ODR):
https://ec.europa.eu/consumers/odr/
Our email address: [contact@example.com]
When NOT Required
- B2B only websites
- Offline-only businesses
- Information-only websites (no sales)
5. Cross-Border Compliance
Country of Origin Principle
Under eCommerce Directive Art. 3:
- Comply primarily with your establishment country's laws
- Target country can impose additional requirements in specific areas
Multi-Country Strategy
For websites serving multiple EU countries:
- Minimum: Comply with establishment country
- Recommended: Cover strictest requirements (DE/AT)
- Best practice: Country-specific legal notices
Language Requirements
| Approach | Description |
|---|---|
| Local language | Required in some countries (France, Spain) |
| English fallback | Acceptable for B2B, risky for B2C |
| Multi-language | Best for consumer-facing sites |
6. Sector-Specific Requirements
Financial Services
- MiFID II disclosure requirements
- PSD2 payment service provider info
- IDD insurance distribution info
Healthcare
- Pharmacy registration
- Medical device CE marking
- Health professional registration
Legal/Accounting
- Professional body membership
- Insurance details (often required)
- Jurisdiction of qualification
7. EU Template (Comprehensive)
LEGAL NOTICE / IMPRESSUM
Company Information:
[Company Name] [Legal Form]
[Street Address]
[Postal Code] [City]
[Country]
Contact:
Phone: [+XX XXX XXX XXX]
Email: [email@example.com]
Registration:
Commercial Register: [Court/Authority]
Registration Number: [Number]
VAT ID: [XXXXXXXXXXXX]
Representatives:
Managing Director(s): [Name(s)]
[For regulated professions:]
Professional Body: [Chamber/Association]
Professional Title: [Title, Member State of grant]
Professional Regulations: [Reference, access link]
[For media content:]
Responsible for Content: [Name, Address]
Editorial Direction: [Statement]
Online Dispute Resolution:
The European Commission provides a platform for online dispute resolution (ODR):
https://ec.europa.eu/consumers/odr/
Privacy:
See our Privacy Policy: [Link]
8. Brexit Impact (UK)
Since January 2021:
- UK no longer under eCommerce Directive
- EU websites need separate UK compliance
- See SKILL-WORLD.md for UK requirements
9. Compliance Checklist (EU-Wide)
Minimum (Art. 5 eCommerce Directive)
- Business/owner name
- Geographic address
- Email address
- Trade/commercial register (if applicable)
- VAT ID (if applicable)
- Regulatory authority (if applicable)
- Professional body + rules (if regulated)
B2C Online Sales (Additional)
- ODR platform link
- Clear pricing including VAT
- Consumer rights information (withdrawal, etc.)
GDPR (All)
- Privacy notice link
- Cookie consent mechanism
10. Resources
- EUR-Lex (EU law): https://eur-lex.europa.eu/
- EU ODR Platform: https://ec.europa.eu/consumers/odr/
- Your Europe Business: https://europa.eu/youreurope/business/
- ECC-Net (Consumer disputes): https://ec.europa.eu/info/ecc-net
Credits & Attribution
This skill is part of the webconsulting.at skills collection.
Sources: EUR-Lex, European Commission, national implementations