Compliance Checklist

Website Compliance:
Mandatory Standards and Controls

Doing business internationally means meeting local legal requirements.

Each country enforces its own rules on consumer protection, advertising, privacy, and electronic transactions — typically through national regulatory bodies that often publish guidance for businesses.

This page lists key countries, names the authorities responsible for online regulation, and outlines their roles in areas that impact websites and digital services.To help with internal reviews, we’ve also included a general compliance checklist. For guidance on restricted sectors, see the Reach Prohibited Business List.

Website Standards

  • No prohibited products or business activities present
  • Accurate and truthful product descriptions
  • No use of AI-generated professionals or endorsements without disclosure
  • Clear and transparent pricing and promotional offers
  • Disclosure of material connections in endorsements
  • Authentic and verifiable endorsements and testimonials
  • Substantiated health, safety, and environmental claims
  • Transparent pricing and stock availability information
  • No use of deceptive design, dark patterns, or negative opt-in tactics
  • Verified environmental and social responsibility claims
  • Clear pricing currency and cross-border fee disclosures

Mandatory Policies

  • Privacy consent pop-up is in place and meets applicable requirements
  • Terms and conditions (terms of service) are clearly stated and complete
  • Privacy policy aligns with legal standards and industry expectations
  • Refund, return, and cancellation policy is clearly defined and easy to access
  • Shipping policy is transparent and accurately reflects practices
  • Cookie policy and consent management are properly implemented and up to date

Cart Functionality and Transparency

  • Cart functionality and UX are transparent and user-friendly
  • Accurate pricing is displayed throughout the cart and checkout process
  • Total cost is clearly presented, including taxes, fees, and discounts
  • Product names, descriptions, and configurations are accurate and verified
  • Availability and stock status are clearly indicated before checkout
  • Estimated delivery timeframes and available shipping methods are displayed
  • Return, refund, and cancellation information is accessible during checkout
  • Digital products or downloads include clear usage terms and requirements
  • Contact and support information is easy to access during checkout
  • Interface design avoids deceptive or manipulative elements
  • No use of dark patterns to mislead or coerce user actions
  • Optional add-ons, insurance, or upsells are not pre-selected or presented as negative options
  • The final purchase button clearly communicates the financial commitment (e.g., “Place order”)
  • Checkout process meets accessibility standards
  • Cross-border disclosures are present for international customers
  • Duties, VAT/GST, and international delivery costs are clearly stated before purchase

Testimonials, Reviews, and Endorsements

  • Reviews appear truthful and reflect genuine customer experiences
  • Any material connections in endorsements are clearly disclosed
  • Star ratings and satisfaction scores accurately reflect source data
  • Endorsements do not include misleading or exaggerated claims
  • AI-generated content is properly disclosed and used responsibly
  • “As seen on” endorsements are accurate and appropriately authorized
  • All testimonial content aligns with applicable advertising laws
  • Endorsements and disclosures are clearly presented and easy to identify

Checkout and Payment Page Review

  • All product prices, fees, shipping costs, taxes, and surcharges are clearly disclosed before payment
  • Item descriptions on the checkout page match what was presented on the product pages
  • Any conditions, limitations, or disclaimers are clearly presented and easy to understand
  • Automatic renewal terms are clearly and conspicuously disclosed before checkout (if applicable)
  • Recurring charges require affirmative customer action to be accepted (if applicable)
  • A simple and accessible cancellation method is provided for recurring purchases (if applicable)
  • The final purchase button (e.g., “Buy” or “Place order”) clearly indicates a paid transaction
  • The customer has access to the refund and return policy at checkout
  • Estimated delivery timeframes are clearly disclosed
  • The business responsible for the transaction is clearly identified
  • All disclosures, terms, and prices are easy to read and understand

Website Compliance Support with Clym

Website compliance involves a range of legal and regulatory requirements, including data protection, marketing practices, electronic transactions, and accessibility. This checklist provides a framework for assessing baseline obligations, but certain areas—such as privacy, cookie usage, and accessibility—may benefit from the use of external tools.

To support clients in reviewing these specific areas, Reach has partnered with Clym, a platform that helps identify and manage website compliance issues. Clients can visit https://withreach.clym.io/ to scan their website and receive a report highlighting potential gaps related to privacy regulations (such as the General Data Protection Regulation and the California Consumer Privacy Act), cookie consent requirements, and accessibility standards.

Preferential pricing is available to Reach clients who choose to use Clym's services to address identified compliance needs.

Visit Clym
Clym

International Overview of Regulatory Bodies by Country

Below is a list of regulatory bodies by country. Use the search bar to filter by country or regulatory body, or select a region to filter by continent.

United States

Oversees consumer protection, advertising, digital communication, and trade innovation in ecommerce.

Canada

Regulates competition, privacy, anti-spam, and ecommerce policy through a multi-agency framework.

Mexico

Enforces consumer rights, data privacy, and online communications rules for ecommerce businesses.

United Kingdom

Ensures fair trading, enforces data protection (UK GDPR), and supports digital commerce policy.

European Union

Harmonizes consumer rights, privacy (GDPR), and digital commerce laws across member states.

Germany

Oversees telecommunications, consumer protection in digital services, and GDPR data privacy enforcement.

France

Regulates ecommerce consumer rights, advertising standards, and enforces digital privacy laws like GDPR.

Italy

Oversees fair competition, privacy regulation, and ecommerce trade promotion and compliance.

Netherlands

Supervises fair trade, consumer protection, and enforces privacy rules including GDPR compliance in ecommerce.

Sweden

Oversees consumer rights and data privacy in ecommerce, focusing on fair business practices and transparency.

Norway

Monitors online business practices and protects consumers' digital rights and privacy in the ecommerce sector.

Ireland

Enforces rules on fair trading and online transparency, while regulating personal data use under GDPR.

Poland

Regulates fair market practices and protects personal data in ecommerce operations.

Czech Republic

Monitors digital consumer protection and enforces GDPR-related privacy standards.

Romania

Oversees online consumer rights and data protection in ecommerce platforms.

Australia

Enforces consumer law, privacy protections, and digital trade standards for online business.

New Zealand

Oversees fair trading, privacy law, and ecommerce policy development in the digital space.

Singapore

Regulates ecommerce sector, enforces data protection, and supports digital economy growth.

Japan

Governs online transactions, consumer rights, and personal data protection in ecommerce.

India

Regulates ecommerce through consumer protection rules, data governance, and fair competition enforcement.

China

Oversees online business conduct, digital advertising, data security, and cross-border ecommerce rules.

United Arab Emirates

Regulates ecommerce consumer practices, online communications, and digital licensing across the UAE.

South Korea

Regulates online marketplace fairness, protects consumer data, and governs digital business operations.

Malaysia

Regulates ecommerce conduct, consumer protection, digital advertising, and data privacy compliance in Malaysia.

Indonesia

Oversees ecommerce regulations on trade fairness, digital communication, and emerging personal data protections.

Philippines

Regulates ecommerce consumer protections, personal data use, and digital platform operations.

Vietnam

Monitors ecommerce activities, protects digital consumers, and promotes secure electronic transactions.

Brazil

Oversees consumer rights, ecommerce fairness, and enforcement of privacy and protection laws.

Argentina

Regulates digital commerce practices, advertising standards, and protects users' personal data.

Colombia

Oversees ecommerce activity, promotes cybersecurity, and protects consumer rights in online transactions.

Chile

Supervises ecommerce trade fairness, protects consumers, and promotes responsible data handling.

Peru

Regulates fair competition, digital consumer rights, and data privacy in ecommerce environments.

South Africa

Enforces fair trading, consumer rights, and data privacy regulations in ecommerce transactions.

Kenya

Enforces ecommerce standards in advertising, competition, and personal data protection in Kenya’s growing digital economy.

Nigeria

Governs consumer protection, ICT regulations, and ecommerce practices in Nigeria’s online marketplace.

Summary

Meeting regulatory expectations across regions is essential for maintaining trust, accountability, and stability. Compliance is not optional - it is a legal obligation and a condition of using Reach. Failure to comply can lead to serious consequences, including enforcement action, significant financial penalties, and restrictions imposed by governing authorities. While laws vary by jurisdiction, their core aims are consistent: protecting individuals, promoting transparency, and ensuring ethical conduct. A structured, well-managed approach is critical to meeting these obligations fully and confidently.