Azerbaijan may require online sellers to disclose payment methods

Online sellers in Azerbaijan may be required to inform customers about available payment methods before an order is placed and a contract is concluded. The requirement is included in proposed amendments to the Law on Electronic Commerce, discussed at a meeting of the parliamentary committee on economic policy, industry and entrepreneurship on Tuesday.

Under the draft amendments, sellers would have to provide information on cashless payment options, including POS terminals, electronic wallets and other payment instruments. The information must be accessible to both customers and authorised state bodies.

The bill also proposes expanding the definition of a POS terminal to include mobile devices equipped with appropriate software for processing cashless payments, including contactless transactions.

The proposed amendments would introduce the principle of technological neutrality in the regulation of electronic commerce. This would mean that legislation would not favour any particular technology and would treat different technological solutions equally.

The bill also proposes removing the restriction limiting the law’s application to electronic commerce conducted within Azerbaijan.

Gulnar Nazimqizi