Stronger controls in online trade: protection for our companies!

Stronger controls in online trade: protection for our companies!

Österreich, Europa - On April 15, 2025, the pressure on Austrian and European companies has increased again due to rising legal requirements and bureaucracy. The Austrian Federal Minister of Digitization and Business Location, Hattmannsdorfer, has announced new measures to carry out increased controls in online trade. These controls are a step that Kurt Egger, the Secretary General of the Economic Association, is necessary in order to secure competitiveness and the continued existence of regional businesses. The measures aim to create more fairer market conditions and ensure that providers from third countries who work on the European market adhere to the same security and quality standards as Austrian companies.

The growth in non -European platforms has launched worrying products that often do not meet the strict European security standards. This not only endangers consumers, but also affects the competitiveness of domestic companies that have to operate under strict regulations. Egger therefore calls for clear measures to cope with these challenges and strengthen the regional economy while consumers are protected at the same time.

new developments in digital trade

The Internet has changed the lives of people significantly in the past two decades. Technologies, company forms and working methods continue to develop rapidly when it comes to trade. The e-commerce guideline was already adopted in 2000, as platforms such as Amazon, Google and Booking.com were still in its infancy. In the meantime, the EU has recognized that it is more urgent than ever to create a new legal framework in order to keep up with these developments. This also includes the law on digital services (Digital Services Act) and the law on digital markets (Digital Markets Act) that aim to create a more secure digital environment for users and companies in the EU.

The new legal framework wants to determine guidelines for the digital world and online platforms in order to promote a fair competitive landscape. By creating this legal framework, it is to ensure that all providers, whether from Europe or other parts of the world, can act under the same conditions as to more security and fairness.

With the new measures in online trading and the aim of the EU, a fundamental goal is pursued: the creation of a fair, transparent and safe market for everyone involved. This could not only improve the protection of consumers, but also promote the growth of companies that adhere to the European standards.