New rules for verifying sellers on marketplaces: What will change for businesses starting in October 2026?

Starting in October 2026, marketplaces will be subject to new rules for verifying sellers, service providers, and individuals opening pickup locations. Now, before entering into an agreement, the platform operator is required to identify the potential partner and verify the accuracy of the information provided.

For most bona fide companies, the changes will not pose a significant obstacle, but the requirements for document preparation and the accuracy of registration data will increase significantly.

Why are new requirements being introduced?

In recent years, marketplaces have become a key business platform. At the same time, there has been an increase in the use of false registration data, the use of proxies, and the emergence of fictitious sellers.

The new rules aim to increase the transparency of e-commerce and reduce risks for both buyers and digital platform operators.

In fact, marketplaces are becoming an additional link in the verification of participants in the market.

What will be checked?

When concluding an agreement, the marketplace operator is obliged to verify the accuracy of the information about the future partner.

For legal entities, the following are subject to verification, in particular:

• brand name;
• registration address;
• INN;
• OGRN;
• Checkpoint.

Individual entrepreneurs, self-employed individuals, and other categories of participants are provided with their own lists of identification data.

The verification will be carried out using state information systems and other identification mechanisms provided by law.

Verification will become a mandatory stage of contract conclusion.

The new rules provide for specific timeframes for conducting the inspection.

After receiving the necessary information, the marketplace is obliged to verify it and decide on the possibility of concluding an agreement.

Following the verification, a notification is sent to the potential partner:

• about a positive test result;
• or about refusal with indication of reasons.

If the identified discrepancies are corrected, the seller will be able to go through the procedure again.

Thus, verification becomes an independent stage of admission to work on the electronic platform.

What does this mean for business?

In practice, the new requirements mean that a company’s registration information must fully comply with the data in state registers.

Particular attention should be paid to situations that previously might not have created significant problems:

• change of legal address without timely updating of information;
• errors in registration data;
• inconsistency of information in various government information systems;
• use of outdated contact information;
• problems with identifying the company’s manager or representative.

Any such discrepancies may result in a refusal to pass the inspection and, as a result, the inability to enter into an agreement with the marketplace until the identified deficiencies are corrected.

A New Trend in Digital Platform Regulation

The introduction of mandatory verification of sellers is part of a broader trend in the development of digital regulation.

In recent years, legislation has consistently strengthened identification requirements for digital economy participants. Similar changes are already affecting domain name registration, the use of electronic services, user authorization on online resources, and electronic document management.

In all cases, a uniform approach is evident: participants in digital relations must be reliably identified, and digital platform operators become full participants in the control system.

What is recommended to do in advance?

Companies planning to operate through marketplaces are advised to conduct an internal verification of registration data in advance.

First of all, it is recommended:

• check the relevance of information in state registers;
• ensure that there are no discrepancies between the registration documents and the information used for identification;
• update information about the manager and persons authorized to act on behalf of the organization;
• check the correctness of the contact information;
• Ensure that the representatives who will be entering into an agreement with the marketplace have the necessary authority.

This audit will help avoid delays when connecting to the site and minimize the risk of contract denial.

The new rules signal a gradual transition by marketplaces from a simple intermediary model to a digital platform with independent responsibilities for verifying its partners.

For businesses, this means heightened legal preparation requirements even before sales begin. Accurate registration data, transparent corporate structure, and timely updating of information are becoming not only a matter of legal compliance but also a prerequisite for accessing the largest electronic trading platforms.

Moreover, due diligence before entering the marketplace is no longer limited to reviewing the contract with the platform. Comprehensive company preparation is becoming increasingly important: auditing corporate documents, verifying registration information, assessing the authority of representatives, and eliminating potential legal risks before starting cooperation. This approach helps avoid rejections during due diligence and ensures the stable operation of businesses on digital platforms.