DUNS Numbers and the EU Digital Services Act (DSA): What Businesses Need to Know
The European Union's Digital Services Act (DSA) has fundamentally changed how online platforms and digital marketplaces operate within the EU. For businesses that sell products, offer services, or distribute software through online platforms, the DSA introduces strict trader verification requirements that directly impact day-to-day operations. A DUNS number has become one of the most practical tools for meeting these requirements efficiently and credibly.
This guide covers everything businesses need to understand about the relationship between DUNS numbers and DSA compliance, including who is affected, what platforms require, and how to prepare your business.
What Is the EU Digital Services Act?
The Digital Services Act is a comprehensive regulation adopted by the European Union that governs how online intermediary services operate. It entered into force on November 16, 2022, with full applicability across all EU member states beginning February 17, 2024. The DSA replaced the older e-Commerce Directive (2000/31/EC) and introduced a modernized legal framework for digital services.
The core objectives of the DSA are straightforward. It aims to create a safer online environment for users, establish transparent and accountable operations for online platforms, and foster innovation while protecting fundamental rights. The regulation applies to a broad range of digital services, including online marketplaces, app stores, social media platforms, hosting services, and search engines.
What makes the DSA particularly significant for businesses is its "know your business customer" provisions. Under Article 30, online platforms that allow traders to reach consumers must collect, verify, and display specific information about those traders. This is where DUNS numbers enter the picture.
Who Does the DSA Affect?
The DSA's trader verification requirements apply to any business that operates as a trader on an online platform accessible to EU consumers. This includes several categories of businesses that might not immediately realize they fall under the regulation.
Direct sellers on marketplaces such as Amazon, eBay, Etsy, and similar platforms must provide verified business information. Software developers who distribute applications through the Apple App Store, Google Play Store, or Adobe Commerce Marketplace are also covered. SaaS providers listed on platform marketplaces, digital content creators who sell through online platforms, and service providers offering their services through digital intermediaries all fall within the scope of the DSA.
Importantly, the DSA applies regardless of where the business is physically located. A company based in the United States, Japan, or Brazil that sells to EU consumers through a covered platform must still comply with the trader verification requirements. The regulation follows the consumer, not the business.
Trader Verification Requirements Under the DSA
Article 30 of the DSA specifies exactly what information online platforms must collect from traders before allowing them to sell to EU consumers. The required information includes the trader's legal name and any trading names used, the physical address of the trader's establishment, contact details including email address and telephone number, the trader's registration number in a trade register or equivalent, and a self-certification that the trader commits to offering only products or services that comply with EU law.
Many platforms have gone beyond the minimum requirements and also request a DUNS number as part of their verification process. Because a DUNS number is a globally recognized, unique nine-digit identifier assigned by Dun & Bradstreet, it serves as an efficient way for platforms to confirm that a trader is a legitimate, registered business entity.
Why DUNS Numbers Matter for DSA Compliance
A DUNS number addresses several DSA compliance challenges simultaneously. First, it provides independent third-party verification. Unlike self-reported business information, a DUNS number is assigned and maintained by Dun & Bradstreet, an independent data provider. This makes it significantly harder for bad actors to fabricate business credentials.
Second, DUNS numbers enable cross-border consistency. Because the DUNS system operates globally, it provides a standardized way to identify businesses regardless of their country of origin. This is especially valuable for platforms that need to verify traders from dozens of different jurisdictions, each with its own business registration systems.
Third, a DUNS number simplifies ongoing compliance maintenance. Rather than submitting different documentation to each platform, businesses can use their DUNS number as a universal identifier. When business details change, updating the DUNS record can streamline updates across multiple platforms.
Finally, having a DUNS number builds trust with EU consumers. Platforms that display verified trader information, including DUNS numbers, give consumers confidence that they are dealing with a legitimate business. This transparency is exactly what the DSA was designed to achieve.
Which Platforms Enforce DUNS for DSA Compliance?
Several major platforms now require or strongly recommend DUNS numbers as part of their DSA compliance processes.
Apple requires a DUNS number for all organizations enrolling in the Apple Developer Program. This requirement predates the DSA but has become even more relevant as Apple enforces trader verification for App Store listings visible to EU users.
Google has implemented trader verification requirements for the Google Play Store that include business identity verification. While Google uses multiple verification methods, a DUNS number can expedite the process significantly.
Adobe Commerce Marketplace explicitly requests a DUNS number as part of its DSA trader information requirements. Developers who fail to provide the required information risk having their listings hidden from EU users.
Amazon and eBay have both rolled out trader verification programs for EU-facing sellers. While DUNS numbers are not always mandatory on these platforms, providing one can speed up the verification process and reduce the likelihood of account suspensions due to incomplete verification.
Other platforms including Microsoft Azure Marketplace, Salesforce AppExchange, and various enterprise software marketplaces have implemented similar requirements or are expected to do so in the near future.
Step-by-Step DSA Compliance Guide
Follow these steps to ensure your business is prepared for DSA trader verification requirements across all relevant platforms.
Step 1: Determine Whether You Need to Comply
If your business sells products, software, or services through any online platform that is accessible to consumers in the EU, you almost certainly need to comply. This applies even if you are not based in the EU and even if EU consumers are not your primary market.
Step 2: Check Whether You Already Have a DUNS Number
Many businesses already have a DUNS number without realizing it. Dun & Bradstreet assigns DUNS numbers to businesses based on publicly available registration data. Use our free DUNS lookup tool to search for your business and check whether a number has already been assigned.
Step 3: Obtain a DUNS Number If Needed
If your business does not yet have a DUNS number, you can request one directly from Dun & Bradstreet. The basic DUNS number is free of charge, though expedited processing and additional data services may involve fees. The standard processing time is typically 30 business days, so plan ahead. For detailed instructions, see our guide on how to get a DUNS number.
Step 4: Gather All Required Trader Information
Beyond the DUNS number, collect all the information required by Article 30 of the DSA. This includes your legal business name, registered address, contact details, and trade register number. Ensure that all information is current and matches your official business records.
Step 5: Update Your Platform Profiles
Log into each platform where your business has a presence and update your trader information. Each platform has its own process for this. For Adobe Commerce, follow the specific steps outlined in our Adobe Commerce DSA compliance guide. For other platforms, look for trader information or DSA compliance sections in your account settings.
Step 6: Verify and Test
After submitting your information, verify that your listings remain visible to EU users. Some platforms provide testing tools or preview modes. If your listings are not appearing correctly, contact the platform's support team promptly.
Step 7: Maintain Ongoing Compliance
DSA compliance is not a one-time task. Keep your trader information up to date across all platforms. If your business name, address, or other details change, update your platform profiles and your DUNS record promptly. Platforms are required to periodically re-verify trader information, so outdated records could result in listings being suspended.
Penalties for Non-Compliance
The consequences of failing to comply with DSA trader verification requirements operate on two levels.
At the platform level, non-compliant traders face immediate practical consequences. Platforms are required by law to suspend or hide listings from traders who have not provided complete and accurate trader information. This means lost visibility, lost sales, and potential removal from the platform entirely.
At the regulatory level, the DSA empowers national Digital Services Coordinators in each EU member state to enforce compliance. Penalties for platforms that fail to enforce trader verification can reach up to 6% of global annual turnover. While these penalties target the platforms rather than individual traders, the practical effect is that platforms are highly motivated to enforce strict compliance, which flows down to every trader on the platform.
Businesses operating in Germany should be particularly attentive, as German regulators have been among the most active in enforcing DSA provisions.
Timeline and Key Deadlines
The DSA's trader verification requirements are already fully in force. The key dates in the DSA timeline were as follows. Very Large Online Platforms (VLOPs) with over 45 million monthly active users in the EU were required to comply by August 25, 2023. All other covered platforms were required to comply by February 17, 2024.
This means that if your business has not yet addressed DSA trader verification, you are already behind schedule. Platforms have been actively enforcing these requirements, and listings without proper trader information may already be hidden from EU consumers.
Looking Ahead
The DSA represents a broader global trend toward increased regulation of online platforms and mandatory business verification. Similar regulatory frameworks are being developed or considered in other jurisdictions, including the UK's Online Safety Act and proposed regulations in Australia and Canada.
Businesses that invest in proper identification and verification now, including obtaining and maintaining a DUNS number, will be better positioned to meet not just current EU requirements but future regulatory obligations worldwide.
Take Action Now
If you have not yet verified your DUNS number or need to check your business details, start with our free DUNS lookup tool. Ensuring your business is properly identified and verified is the foundation of DSA compliance and a smart investment in your company's ability to operate across global digital platforms.