Question of the day

If you have ever sold goods via your mobile phone, via your website, or used payment terminals, online banking, delivered goods or services via social networks (Facebook, Instagram, etc.), then you are most likely to have done e-commerce (unless for private use). Again, Covid-19 has shown the importance and timeliness of online business presence.

Most e-commerce means using networks (Internet) to carry out all the activities necessary to run and operate the business: purchasing and selling products and services, searching for technologies and partners, interacting with counter-parties, identifying the most convenient transportation and insurance services, carrying out banking services, payments and invoicing, communicating with staff, taking orders and any other activities necessary for carrying out the business.

In order to be able to engage in e-commerce, several legal conditions need to be met:

1. The business must be registered at Public Services Agencyit is a prerequisite for carrying out any commercial activity (generally not just e-commerce);

2. If the company intends to conduct its business exclusively on the Internet (similar to e-commerce companies such as Amazon, eBay or Alibaba), it must notify the local public authority (town hall).

3. The undertaking must apply for an authorisation from National Centre for Personal Data Protection of the Republic of Moldova (Data Protection Centre) whether the company is to manage personal data (e.g. whether the website will collect, store (process) the name of its customers, first name, bank details or any other personal information);

4. If the company decides to set up a webpage, all competition, data protection, consumer protection and other related legislation must be fully respected.

Source: Extract from the publication “Emergency Legal Advice for SMEs” prepared by the Economic Council to the Prime Minister and supported by the EBRD Impact Fund for Small Business.