Regulations for the Retail Sector
Retail and trade, as the link between production and consumers, are affected by numerous EU regulations. Data protection, supply chain due diligence, and sustainability reporting are particular focus areas.
Why Is Retail Especially Affected?
- Customer data: E-commerce and loyalty programmes require comprehensive GDPR compliance
- Global supply chains: Trade companies with international supply chains are subject to the LkSG and CSDDD
- Sustainability reporting: Large retail groups must report on supply chain sustainability under the CSRD
- Whistleblowing: The HinSchG requires internal reporting channels from 50 employees
Key Challenges
- Omnichannel retail (online + brick-and-mortar) requires unified data protection concepts
- Complex international supply chains with numerous suppliers in third countries
- Product-related due diligence obligations (e.g. EU Deforestation Regulation)
- Large volumes of customer data from loyalty programmes, online shops, and payment processing