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Retail and wholesale

Rules and regulations for your sector

Retail and wholesale general (28 regulations)Selling animals and animal feed (12 regulations)Selling flowers and plants (7 regulations)Selling food and beverages (13 regulations)Selling medicines (7 regulations)Selling non-food products (27 regulations)Selling outside a store (10 regulations)Vehicle sales and maintenance (16 regulations)

Admission of EU products into the Netherlands (mutual recognition)

Do you want to sell a product in the Netherlands? If a product or product type has already been admitted in another EU Member State, the Dutch government may not prohibit its sale in the Netherlands....

Applying for a licence for music use

Do you want to use music in your company? For instance in your shop, restaurant or on your website? Then you must have permission from the music’s rights holders. You can pay for a music licence which...

Applying for a licence to use television images

Does your company in the Netherlands show television or film images to employees or visitors? You require a licence. Producers of footage own the copyright on their television programmes, videos, and...

Betting and lottery tax

Do you organise games of chance and are you based in the Netherlands? You have to pay betting and lottery tax (in Dutch). Operators of gaming machines must also pay this tax. Prize winners also pay...

Attention: amendment

Cancellation period in case of a sale

If you sell products or services in the Netherlands, in some cases, your customer has the right to a reflection period (cooling-off period or cancellation period). During this period, they can cancel...

Carbon adjustment at the border on EU imports (CBAM)

Do you import goods from outside the EU? Your import may be covered by the rules set in the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) Regulation. If this is the case, you may have to report these...

Commodities Act: safety rules for products

Do you produce, prepare, or trade in food or other products in the Netherlands? Then you must comply with the Commodities Act (Warenwet). What does the Commodities Act say? The Commodities Act (in...

Attention: amendment

Contribute to cleaning up plastic litter

Do you produce disposable plastic products? You must contribute financially to help clean up litter. You also have to encourage consumers to dispose of plastic waste correctly, and not to litter. This...

Digital platforms must provide clear terms and conditions (P2B)

Do you use digital platforms (online intermediation services) to sell your product or service? Digital platforms must give you clear information, according to the Platform-to-Business Regulation (P2B...

Distributing advertising material

Do you want to distribute advertising material (leaflets, flyers, and samples) in the Netherlands? Either door-to-door or in the street? There are rules you have to comply with, both on a national and...

General terms and conditions

General terms and conditions state the rules that apply when you sell something, or provide a service to a customer. You do not have to use general terms and conditions, but if you use them, they...

Attention: amendment

Labelling of non-food products

Do you manufacture or sell non-food consumer products in the Netherlands? Your product must have a label with mandatory information. For example, what the contents are and how to use it safely. Also...

Notification of unsafe consumer products

Do you manufacture, distribute, or sell consumer products (non-food)? And do you discover your product is unsafe? You must report this to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority...

Attention: amendment

Offering credit notes or vouchers

Are you unable to deliver goods or services but did your customer already pay (in part)? And do you want to offer your customer a credit note or voucher? Then you should take into account the right to...

Online sales and purchases (web shop)

Do you sell products or services online in the Netherlands? For instance, through a web shop or online platform? You must comply with legal rules to protect your customer from the risks involved in...

Payment term, collection charges, and statutory interest

If you sell products or provide services, often a payment term is determined. If you deal with consumers, you can decide on the payment term. If you deliver to companies or governments you must comply...

Product liability

If you are a manufacturer, you are liable for any damage caused by faults in your products. This is known as product liability. Products should be safe and usable before they are allowed onto the...

Attention: amendment

Product price labelling

Do you offer products for sale to consumers? There are rules for how you should label prices on products. Price labelling in shops You must state a price on or near all products in a shop. You must...

Providing a guarantee

Do you sell products to consumers? You must make sure these products are of good quality. In the Netherlands, anyone buying a product is legally entitled to a sound product. This is a statutory...

Attention: amendment

Public order and safety (General Municipal By-law)

Do you have a commercial building, such as a shop or a catering establishment? You will have to comply with the rules in the General Municipal By-Law. The General Municipal By-Law (Algemene...

Purchase agreement

Do you sell products or provide services in the Netherlands? Then you conclude a purchase agreement with the buyer or consumer. This type of agreement is also known as purchase contract...

Attention: amendment

Requirements for packaging

Do you make, buy, or sell packaging? In the Netherlands there are rules you must comply with. As a manufacturer or importer of packaging or packed products, you are responsible for managing the...

Rules for telesales

Do you offer services or products by telephone? Then you must keep to a number of rules. Cold calling is banned. Ban on cold calling Companies and organisations are not allowed to call natural...

Second-hand dealer register

Do you trade in second-hand or unregulated goods? In the Netherlands, traders in second-hand or unregulated goods must report to the municipality, and are legally obliged to keep a second-hand dealer...

Attention: amendment

Selling from a shop

Do you sell your goods or services in a shop? Or from other sales areas? For example, a stand at a trade fair, a market stall, or a van? You have several obligations towards your customers. Provide...

Standards for products and services

Are you a manufacturer or trader? Your products or services may need to meet certain standards. There are norms for, for example, toys, electric devices, or medical instruments. The Netherlands...

Supply times for loading and unloading

Many municipalities have fixed times when trucks are allowed to load and unload in certain areas, such as town centres. These are called supply times (bevoorradingstijden or venstertijden). Often...

Trading hours

In the Netherlands, your shop may be open during the statutory shopping hours. These hours are on working days and Saturdays from 06:00 to 22:00 hours. Your municipality may deviate from the statutory...

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Retail and wholesale general | Business.gov.nl