Amazon, eBay sign EU agreement to crack down on illegal goods

The European Commission has signed an agreement with some of the largest online retailers aimed at cracking down on the market for illegal goods on the internet.

The agreement was signed by Amazon, eBay, Alibaba and Rakuten. It requires them to remove illegal listings on their sites within two days of being flagged by authorities.

{mosads}

“More and more people in the EU are shopping online,” Vera Jourova, the EU’s consumer protection chief, said in a statement. “E-commerce has opened up new possibilities for consumers, offering them more choice at lower prices. Consumers should be just as safe when they buy online, as when they buy in a shop.”

Jourova also called on other e-commerce companies to join the pledge.

The agreement applies to “dangerous” nonfood products, like recalled items or goods flagged as unsafe.

The commission and the companies plan to assess progress on the agreement every six months.