Running an eCommerce business in 2025 is about more than great products and clever marketing. The legal landscape for online retail has changed dramatically, and store owners now face stricter rules on consumer protection, sustainability, accessibility and product safety. These aren’t just box-ticking exercises, they come with the risk of heavy fines, customer complaints, or even being blocked from selling into key markets like the EU if you get them wrong.
At the same time, today’s customers expect transparency, fairness, and responsibility from the brands they buy from. Clear pricing, easy subscription cancellations, safe products, eco-friendly packaging and accessible websites are fast becoming the baseline for trust.
Let’s walk through the key laws affecting Shopify stores in 2025, from the UK’s Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act (DMCCA) to EU regulations on packaging, product safety, accessibility, and platform rules that affect all UK businesses that sell in the EU. Plus, check out our compliance roadmap to make sure your store meets the latest requirements.
UK and EU Laws Affecting Shopify Stores in 2025
Key changes to UK consumer law under the DMCCA
In April 2025, new rules under the Digital Markets Competition and Consumers Act 2024 (DMCCA) came into effect to reshape the way online businesses in the UK operate, with the aim of making shopping online clearer and fairer for customers. This is a step in the right direction for making the eCommerce space safer and more regulated, but means businesses who fail to comply could face severe consequences.
Let’s take a look at some of the main changes that were introduced under the DMCCA to see how they might affect your online store.
Under the new law, it is now illegal to create or buy fake or misleading reviews, or hide negative reviews on your website. Businesses must also clearly show how reviews are collected to provide better transparency for customers.
Drip pricing is the process of advertising a product at one price but adding unavoidable hidden fees later that increase the price (such as booking fees or service charges). From April 2025, this process has been made illegal – all fees must now be shown clearly on product pages and checkout flows to avoid misleading customers.
In Spring 2026, new rules for subscription contracts will also come into effect, whereby businesses must make it easier to cancel subscription services (such as monthly subscription boxes or digital memberships). They will also need to send renewal reminders to customers to give them the opportunity to opt out of renewing the service, before they are charged.
The role of the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA)
All of these changes are overseen by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), and under the DMCCA, the CMA can now act more quickly and hand out bigger fines for breaches – in some cases up to 10 percent of global turnover. That’s a serious risk for online retailers, so it’s important to update your store design, checkout flow and customer messaging now, to avoid fines and have the added benefit of building more trust with your customer base.
Stricter packaging, waste and sustainability regulations under the EPR
Sustainability is no longer just a nice-to-have for online retailers, it’s a legal requirement. In the UK, new rules on packaging waste have come into effect under the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR). This means that if your business places packaged goods on the market, you’ll be responsible for covering the full costs of collecting, recycling and disposing of that packaging. For eCommerce brands, this could mean higher costs if packaging is difficult to recycle, and extra reporting obligations for the type and amount of packaging used.
Alongside the EPR, the UK also has a plastic packaging tax. Any packaging that contains less than 30% recycled plastic attracts an additional charge. For smaller online businesses, this can feel like another hidden cost, but it’s also an opportunity to rethink packaging choices. Many retailers are already moving to more eco-friendly materials like recyclable cardboard, compostable mailers or packaging made from recycled content to reduce tax exposure and strengthen their sustainability message.
Across Europe, similar rules are being rolled out, including requirements for clearer labelling to show whether packaging is recyclable or biodegradable, and stricter reporting duties on materials used. While these are EU measures, they also apply to any UK businesses that sell to European customers. Compliance will be checked at the border, and fines or delays can follow if your packaging does not meet local standards.
Looking ahead, the EU is also preparing to roll out the Digital Product Passport (DPP) as part of the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR). This will require detailed digital records about the sustainability and recyclability of products, which will be accessible to consumers. Even though the UK is outside the EU, UK brands that sell into Europe still need to prepare for these changes. It’s advisable to start gathering and displaying sustainability data now, so customers have full visibility before the regulations take full effect.
New General Product Safety Regulations (GPSR) in the EU
If your online store sells into the EU or Northern Ireland, you also need to be aware of the General Product Safety Regulation (GPSR). These rules are designed to improve product safety in the fast-growing eCommerce market, and they apply whether you are based inside the EU or not. In other words, UK businesses that ship products across borders still need to comply.
The GPSR sets stricter standards for what information needs to be available to customers. This includes clearer details on who manufactured the product, how it should be used safely, and any risks it might pose. Online sellers also need to ensure that safety warnings are displayed in a way that is easy to find and understand, not hidden away in small print. For Shopify store owners, this could mean updating product descriptions, adding safety icons, or creating dedicated sections on product pages for safety and compliance information.
Another key part of the regulation is how defective or unsafe products are handled. Businesses are now expected to act quickly if a problem is found – whether that means pulling a product listing, issuing a recall notice, or notifying customers directly. The idea is to create more accountability for online retailers and to protect customers before harm occurs.
While these requirements may sound demanding, they also create an opportunity for UK eCommerce businesses to build more trust. Shoppers are more likely to buy from stores that are open and transparent about safety standards, and being proactive with compliance now can help prevent delays or penalties when selling into Europe. By building product safety checks into your store’s workflow and making key information visible on every product page, you can stay compliant and reassure customers at the same time.
New accessibility and digital user experience laws
In June 2025, the European Accessibility Act (EAA) came into force, and it has big implications for online stores. The EAA is designed to make digital products and services more accessible to everyone, including people with disabilities. For eCommerce, that means websites need to follow stricter rules on how product information is presented and how users navigate online shops.
At its core, the Act aligns with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), currently version 2.1 and soon moving to 2.2. For online retailers, this translates into practical requirements such as adding descriptive alt text to all product images, ensuring strong colour contrast so text is readable, and making sure your website works with keyboard navigation and screen readers. It also means forms, buttons and checkout flows must be designed in a way that is accessible to all users, not just those without impairments.
Although the UK is no longer part of the EU, these rules still matter for any UK store selling into the EU or Northern Ireland. Non-compliance could lead to restrictions on selling in those markets, as well as reputational damage if customers are excluded from accessing your store. Given that accessibility is also increasingly a ranking factor for search engines, improving your store’s accessibility now is both a legal and a commercial advantage.
For Shopify store owners, the good news is that many accessibility improvements can be built directly into themes. Adding proper alt text, adjusting font and colour settings, and testing navigation tools are all practical steps you can take without rebuilding your entire store. There are also specialist Shopify apps available that can help identify accessibility gaps and suggest fixes. By investing in these updates early, you can not only stay compliant with the EAA but also deliver a smoother experience for all customers, which often leads to higher conversions and fewer abandoned carts.
Regulations for online platforms and marketplaces
Two major EU laws – the Digital Markets Act (DMA) and the Digital Services Act (DSA), which have been applicable since 2023 and 2024 respectively – are also affecting how online platforms and marketplaces work. And even though the UK is outside the EU, these laws still affect UK businesses that sell to European customers or use marketplaces like Amazon, eBay or Etsy to reach them.
The DSA is all about transparency and fairness. It introduces tougher rules on content moderation, so harmful or misleading content has to be removed quickly. It also targets “dark patterns”, which include design tricks like hiding cancellation options or using pre-ticked boxes to sneak in add-ons. For UK Shopify store owners, this means reviewing your checkout flow and product pages to make sure they are clear and honest. For example, all fees need to be shown upfront, customers should be able to cancel subscriptions without hassle, and reviews must be genuine and easy to verify.
The DMA is aimed at the largest digital “gatekeepers” such as Amazon, Google and Meta. It requires more transparency about algorithms and rankings so that customers can see why certain products appear first. While smaller independent stores will not be directly regulated, UK sellers who list products on these marketplaces may be feeling the knock-on effects. You may need to adapt how you write product descriptions or how you use advertising tools, as platforms adjust to comply.
For UK eCommerce businesses, the key message is that transparency and user-friendly design are no longer optional extras. Even if your main audience is in the UK, customers increasingly expect these standards everywhere. Making your Shopify store straightforward to navigate, avoiding manipulative design tricks, and clearly showing costs and cancellation options will not only help you comply with EU expectations but will also build trust with UK shoppers. In a competitive market, that trust is often what keeps customers coming back for more.
What this means for Shopify stores
All of these rules and regulations ultimately filter down to how online stores are built and designed. For Shopify store owners, this means thinking carefully about user experience and making sure compliance is baked into the way your site works.
Use our compliance roadmap to make sure your Shopify store is up to scratch!
Compliance roadmap for Shopify stores
Step 1: Audit your store
- Review product pages, checkout flows and subscription processes against the Digital Markets Competition and Consumers Act (DMCCA) and EU rules if you sell cross-border.
- Check that total pricing is displayed upfront, cancellation is simple, and reviews are genuine and transparent.
- Run an accessibility test against WCAG 2.1 (or higher) to spot any gaps in your theme design.
Step 2: Fix immediate issues
- Update product pages with safety details, manufacturer information and clear descriptions.
- Add packaging and sustainability information to show compliance with UK Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) and the plastic packaging tax.
- Simplify your checkout process by removing hidden fees, pre-ticked boxes and confusing upsells.
Step 3: Go beyond the basics
- Review and refine subscription apps and flows so cancellations are straightforward and renewal notices are sent on time.
- Improve accessibility in your Shopify theme with better colour contrast, clear fonts, alt text and keyboard-friendly navigation.
- Train your team on best practices for managing product reviews and avoiding misleading content.
Step 4: Stay compliant with EU requirements if you sell cross-border
- Make sure your store meets EU General Product Safety Regulation (GPSR) standards, including safety information and recall processes.
- Align with the Digital Services Act (DSA) and Digital Markets Act (DMA) by avoiding dark patterns and keeping design choices transparent.
- Start preparing for the Digital Product Passport (DPP) and sustainability reporting, which are being phased in in 2026.
Step 5: Build compliance into your ongoing processes
- Schedule a store compliance review every six months to stay aligned with UK and EU laws.
- Keep Shopify apps, themes and policies updated.
- Consider consulting with specialists if you sell complex or regulated products, or if you manage large volumes of EU sales.
Partner with a Shopify Agency for Support with Compliance
This new wave of eCommerce laws has raised the bar for UK Shopify stores. Compliance should now directly infuence everything about your store’s design and business practices.
If keeping up with these changes feels overwhelming, partnering with an experienced Shopify Agency like Create8 can help. From auditing your store to redesigning product pages, updating checkout flows, and ensuring accessibility, Create8 can guide you through compliance while enhancing the shopping experience for your customers.
We offer both custom Shopify development and Shopify theme development, as well as Shopify support packages for existing stores. Get in touch to find out how we can help you with compliance.
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