DIY

We use CE & ECE markings to show that your items meet the safety, health, and environmental requirements. This marking is even required for most items sold in the European Union (EU). Read more about CE marking.

Precursors are substances that can be found in everyday household items and can be used for making explosives. That's why European legislation restricts (the use of) these substances. From 1 February 2021, European Regulation 2019/1148 on explosives precursors applies. This European legislation also applies in the Netherlands. Read more.

Construction materials containing wood fibres are only permitted on the platform if they have the FSC or PEFC certification. The FSC system ensures that we can protect the world's forests through responsible forest management. That is why, via bol, the sale of construction wood is only allowed with an FSC certification. For more information, please visit the FSC website.

For safety reasons, bol only allows you to offer foldable knives, such as utility knives and pocket knives. Axes are also permitted. By foldable knives, we mean knives that can be made smaller using hinges or sliding mechanisms, where the blade folds into the handle to safely store it in your pocket. Non-foldable knives include machetes (even those intended for gardening), daggers, and hunting knives.

If you want to offer a knife, we expect you to specify in the attributes whether it is foldable. This must also be clearly visible in the first image.

Because these items fall under legislation concerning the safety of people and nature, we strictly enforce this policy.

*The information above applies to the Sport, camping & outdoor product range. This means that kitchen and table knives are permitted for selling via bol under the correct product range.

It is your responsibility as a partner to be familiar with the Weapons and Ammunition Act if you sell a product range that must comply with it. To best enforce the Weapons and Ammunition Act, we have chosen to provide additional clarification and/or create extra guidelines within several categories: The following items are not permitted for selling via bol:

• Butterfly knives / Balisong
  It is also not permitted to sell so-called training knives / trainers of this type via bol.
• Stiletto knives, also known as gravity knives and switchblade knives
  It is also not permitted to sell so-called training knives / trainers of this type via bol.
• Knives that are ‘hidden’ by resembling an innocent item such as a pen, comb, bank card, etc.
  Also described as disguised weapons that outwardly resemble an object other than a weapon.
• Throwing knives and throwing stars (also known as shuriken, ninja stars)
  Including trainers. With the exception of costume accessories that fall under the toy directive and are therefore intended for children under 14 years of age.

We do not want to offer items that could negatively affect users or their environment. Therefore, we do not sell items that are almost exclusively used for criminal purposes. So, you may not offer items that are strongly associated with burglary or fraud, such as:

• Key duplicators
• Odometer rollback devices
• Cylinder pullers
• Lockpick guns*
• Seatbelt clips to stop the alarm

*In contrast to lockpick guns, lockpick sets are allowed due to their hobbyist nature and the minimal force used.

Fire Extinguishers

All fire extinguishers you sell via bol must comply with the applicable laws and regulations in the Netherlands and Belgium. For selling items on our Dutch platform, the Portable Fire Extinguishers Decree applies. This concerns all items intended to fight fires through simple actions and with a filling in the device that does not exceed 20 kg in total. This rule applies to all fire extinguishers up to 20 kg intended for easily extinguishing fires.

No matter how small the fire extinguisher is, it must comply with this decree. Things you need to consider when selling a fire extinguisher:

• CE Mark

Ensure that the fire extinguisher has a valid CE mark. A valid CE mark demonstrates that the fire extinguisher complies with European regulations.

• Colour

The colour of the fire extinguisher must be red (RAL 3000).

• Certification valid for 5 years

All fire extinguishers must be certified before they can be sold on the Dutch and Belgian market. This certification is valid for 5 years. After this period, the certification of the fire extinguisher and the number on the device expire. No more devices may then be imported or sold under this number.

Safety Detectors (smoke, carbon monoxide, heat, gas, and combination detectors)

To protect the quality and safety of our product range, it is important that all safety detectors (smoke, carbon monoxide, heat, gas, and combination detectors) comply with European laws and regulations.

Therefore, via bol, you can only sell safety detectors that:

• comply with the relevant European safety standards. It is important that this is also entered under ‘Type standard’ in the content;
• have a Dutch manual that complies with European safety standards, both physically and digitally; and
• have been tested by a Notified Body (NB) in Europe.

Specific requirements that a CO detector (carbon monoxide detector) must always meet are:

• The name of the manufacturer, supplier, or brand
• The name of the CO detector and model number
• Type of gas to be detected
• The lifespan of the detector
• The text: ‘Read the instructions’ in Dutch

In addition, the included Dutch manual must contain explanations about, among other things:

• Placement and installation
• The expected lifespan
• The test procedure

Second-hand items or margin items can only be offered in the categories books, music, games, and movies. For other categories, you cannot request selling rights. Therefore, it is not possible to offer second-hand items other than books, music, games, and movies via bol.

Safety information is provided on the packaging of some items. This information is important because it ensures our customers receive items of high quality and safety. Additionally, European guidelines require you to include this safety information on the item page. More information about these regulations can be found here. The mandatory safety information can be found on the item's packaging. Detailed safety information is provided on the Safety Data Sheet (SDS). The SDS can be requested from the item's partner. SDS is important for product categories containing items with hazardous substances. Examples include items such as superglue, laundry detergent, and dish soap. For each item, fill in the required characteristics. These must be identical to the safety information on the item's packaging label:

• SIGNAL WORD: 'Danger' or 'Warning';
• HAZARD STATEMENT(S): on the label, these can be found under the heading 'hazard statements'. These are identifiable by the H-phrases on the SDS;
• PRECAUTIONARY STATEMENT(S): these are the recommended precautionary measures. These are identifiable by the P-phrases on the SDS.

Geysers and regulations

To protect the quality and safety of our product range, it is essential that all geysers comply with applicable laws and regulations, such as the EcoDesign Regulation and the Energy Labelling Directive. Geysers that do not meet these requirements may not be placed on the market or sold.

Key considerations

• Energy label: geysers must have an energy label showing the energy efficiency class and relevant technical information.
• CE marking: all geysers must have a CE marking that proves the item complies with the relevant European safety and environmental standards.
• Declaration of Conformity: manufacturers or importers must have an EU Declaration of Conformity to demonstrate that the geyser complies with the relevant requirements.

To be able to offer mixed paint via bol, the following applies:

1. No extra conditions can be applied to mixed paint. Customers are allowed to return mixed paint.
2. No extra communication takes place between the partner and the customer.
3. Offering mixed paint from a specific brand is only allowed if the partner also has a contract with that brand.

You are only allowed to sell personal alarms that can be used on another person, such as alternatives to pepper spray, provided they do not contain prohibited substances.

Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Scheme / Stichting Open

Comply with legal regulations regarding electrical appliances

Are you a business owner who introduces appliances, lamps, or batteries to the Dutch market or sells them there? Then you may be subject to 'producer responsibility'. This is the case, for example, if you purchase items from outside the Dutch borders (intra-Community acquisition). If you fall under this scheme, you are legally obliged to collect and process these items safely and responsibly.

You don't have to manage this process alone. Register with Stichting OPEN, the Dutch organization that shapes this producer responsibility on behalf of importers and producers of appliances, batteries, and lamps. Stichting OPEN does this together with collection, sorting, recycling, and other chain partners. This is well-organized and good for the environment, because components, materials, and raw materials are preserved. These rules also apply to partners. Here they are summarized.

Rules for producers and importers: registration and reporting to Stichting OPEN

To find out if the rules related to producer responsibility apply to you, you must be able to answer 'yes' to at least one of the following questions:

• Do you produce electrical appliances in the Netherlands and place them on the Dutch market?
• Do you purchase electrical appliances abroad and place them on the Dutch market?
• Are you based abroad and do you sell electrical appliances directly to Dutch consumers?

It's good to know that almost all items that use electricity fall under the scheme, meaning all appliances with a plug or a place for a battery. If you are in doubt, consult Stichting OPEN.

Click here for more information and frequently asked questions about Stichting Open

Rules for retailers: Old-for-new scheme

In the Netherlands, electronics stores are obliged to take back old appliances when selling new ones (the 'old-for-new' scheme). If the customer buys an electrical appliance or energy-efficient lamp online, the retailer is also obliged to take back a similar item. (Web)stores are obliged to clearly offer the 'old-for-new' scheme to their customers before the payment process on the website is completed.

EPR stands for Extended Producer Responsibility. It is an environmental policy that holds producers, meaning the party that introduces a product to the market in the Netherlands and/or Belgium for the first time, responsible for the entire lifecycle of their products, including the waste phase. This may also apply to you as a partner if you are the first to place products on the market. Read more about UPV on this page.