Compliance and Audits in Germany: What Every Amazon Seller Needs to Know

Selling on Amazon.de provides access to a massive and affluent market, but it comes with a high degree of responsibility. Germany's commitment to consumer protection and product safety is enforced through a web of regulations. As a seller, you are legally responsible for ensuring your products are fully compliant. Being prepared for an audit from German authorities or Amazon is not just good practice—it's essential for survival.

Key Areas of Compliance in Germany

Your products and business practices must adhere to several key pieces of legislation.

• Product Safety Act (Produktsicherheitsgesetz - ProdSG): This is the foundational law. It dictates that only safe products can be sold on the market. It requires clear identification of the manufacturer or the EU-based importer on the product or its packaging.
• CE Marking: For many product categories (e.g., electronics, toys, protective equipment), the CE mark is mandatory. This mark is a declaration by the manufacturer that the product meets all applicable EU health, safety, and environmental protection standards. You must have a complete technical file and a Declaration of Conformity to back it up.
• Electrical and Electronic Equipment Act (ElektroG): If you sell electronics, you must be registered with the EAR foundation (Stiftung EAR) and ensure your products can be properly disposed of and recycled (WEEE compliance).
• Chemical Regulations (REACH): This regulation governs the use of chemical substances. You must ensure your products do not contain any restricted chemicals above the permitted levels.

Preparing for an Audit

An audit can be triggered by a customer complaint, a spot check by market surveillance authorities, or an inquiry from Amazon itself. You must be able to produce the required documentation on demand.

• The Technical File: For CE-marked products, you must have a complete technical file ready for inspection. This includes design drawings, risk assessments, test reports from certified labs, and a copy of the Declaration of Conformity.
• Traceability: You need to have clear records that trace your product from the factory to the end customer. This includes supplier invoices and shipping documents.
• The Responsible Person: You must have a designated "Responsible Person" based within the EU who can act as the point of contact for authorities and provide them with compliance documentation.

Amazon's Role as a Gatekeeper

Amazon is increasingly proactive in enforcing these rules. They may request your Declaration of Conformity or other test reports at any time. If you cannot provide them, they will immediately suspend your product listing. Their goal is to protect themselves and their customers from non-compliant products.

How FLEX. Supports Your Compliance Efforts

While we are not a compliance consultancy, our logistics services play a supportive role.

• Secure Chain of Custody: We provide a fully documented and traceable logistics chain, ensuring you have clear records of your inventory's movement.
• Quality Checks: During our FBA prep process, we can visually inspect for required markings (like the CE mark) and report any inconsistencies, giving you a chance to fix issues before they reach Amazon.

Conclusion

Compliance in Germany is not optional. It is a fundamental requirement for market access. Proactively ensuring your products are safe, tested, and fully documented is the only way to build a sustainable and risk-free business on Amazon.de.

Need a logistics partner who understands the importance of getting every detail right? Contact FLEX..