Recital 46

(46) Under the new complex business models linked to online sales, the same entity can provide a variety of services. Depending on the nature of the services provided for a given product, the same entity can fall within different categories of business models under this Regulation. When an entity provides only online intermediation services for a given product, then it would qualify only as a provider of an online marketplace for that product. In the event that the same entity provides both online marketplace services for the sale of a particular product and also acts as an economic operator under this Regulation, it would qualify also as the relevant economic operator. In such a case, the entity in question would therefore have to comply with the obligations applicable to the relevant economic operator. For instance, if the provider of the online marketplace also distributes a product, then, with respect to the sale of the distributed product, it would be considered to be a distributor. Similarly, if the entity in question sells its own branded products, it would act as a manufacturer and would thus need to comply with the applicable requirements for manufacturers. Also, some entities can qualify as fulfilment service providers if they offer fulfilment services. Such cases would thus need to be assessed on a case-by-case basis.

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Source: EUR-Lex CELLAR · retrieved 2026-08-26 · Text as adopted (Official Journal); later amendments are not incorporated in this text.