Compliance Checklist for Cross-Border E-Commerce: A Complete Guide to Global Sales Readiness

Cross-border e-commerce has become one of the fastest-growing sales models in Türkiye in recent years and offers major opportunities for businesses that want to expand via global platforms such as Amazon, Etsy, eBay and Alibaba. However, selling internationally is not just about uploading products. At the core of e-export lies a much deeper preparation process that includes regulatory compliance, product labelling requirements, tax and company structure, logistics operations, customer safety and data protection obligations. Many sellers look for answers to critical questions such as “Where should I start for e-export?”, “Is my product suitable for overseas markets?”, “Which documents are required?” and “What should be included in a compliance checklist?”

An e-export compliance checklist helps you systematically track the essential requirements needed to sell smoothly in global markets. The aim of this list is to ensure that the seller is fully prepared from legal, operational and technical perspectives. Compliance gaps can cause products to be held in customs, listings to be suspended on platforms like Amazon, return rates to rise, or even your brand account to be shut down. That’s why it is extremely important to move forward based on a detailed checklist before starting your e-export journey.

Why Do You Need a Cross-Border E-Commerce Compliance Checklist?

The biggest risk when selling in global markets is not knowing local regulations and platform rules. Even if a product is fully legal in Türkiye, it may require different labelling, safety tests or certifications in other countries. Therefore, a compliance checklist is not just a “preparation table”; it is also a risk management tool.

Many entrepreneurs ask, “Can I just upload my product to Amazon and start selling immediately?” The answer is often no; if platform policies, product documents and logistics requirements are not met in advance, you may not even get through account verification. A compliance checklist clarifies exactly what needs to be done and in what order.

Potential negative consequences of compliance gaps include: products being held at customs, additional tax costs, returned shipments, listings being suspended by the platform or the product being completely removed from sale. All these risks can be mitigated from the start with the right checklist.

A compliance checklist also makes growth much easier for the business. Once a system is in place, adding new products, launching in new countries or planning marketing activities becomes much faster. For this reason, preparing a compliance checklist for e-export not only saves time and reduces costs, but also increases operational security.

Company and Tax Compliance: The Foundation of E-Export

Setting up a legal entity is almost a mandatory step for e-export. International sales invoicing, applying VAT exemptions, issuing export declarations and having revenues transferred into a business bank account all require a formal company structure.

At this stage, one of the most frequently asked questions from sellers is: “Is a sole proprietorship enough for e-export?” Yes, a sole proprietorship is sufficient for most platforms. A limited liability company offers a more corporate structure. Which type to choose depends entirely on the seller’s goals.

One of the most critical points in tax compliance is that e-export is exempt from VAT. Every product sold from Türkiye to abroad can benefit from a VAT exemption. However, in order for this exemption to be valid, export invoices must be issued correctly.

Key items to check under company compliance include:

• The company registration is active

• The tax certificate is up to date

• The bank account is opened in the company’s name

• The infrastructure for issuing export invoices is in place

• The company address and bank address are consistent

• Documents to be used in platform verification are fully prepared

Without this structure, no platform can support a stable, long-term sales process. Especially on Amazon and Etsy, even the smallest document error in the verification stage can bring everything to a halt.

Product Documentation and Certification Compliance

One of the most critical areas of compliance in e-export is product certification. Each country and product category is subject to different regulations. That’s why the question “Is my product suitable for overseas markets?” is one of the most fundamental questions in e-export.

Many categories—from electronics and cosmetics to toys and food—require specific certifications. For example, products may need FCC certification for the US, CE marking for Europe and, in some cases, RoHS, REACH, MSDS or FDA documentation. Without these, products may not be allowed through customs.

Sellers often ask, “Does Amazon specifically require a CE certificate?” Amazon may not always require the physical certificate during listing, but it expects the product to comply with relevant laws. Listing a product without the necessary documentation can lead to account or listing suspension.

Core items to check for product compliance:

• Identifying category-specific requirements

• Reviewing import rules by target country

• Determining which test reports are required

• Checking the validity period of certificates

• Ensuring that labelling complies with standards

• Matching user instructions with the required languages

Certification compliance is crucial in categories such as cosmetics, medical products, toys, baby care products, electronic devices and dietary supplements. Carrying out transactions without documentation in these categories poses serious risk.

Customs and Logistics Compliance

Ensuring logistics compliance in e-export shipments plays a critical role in making sure products reach the buyer without issues. Products held or returned at customs cause both financial loss and wasted time. That’s why logistics compliance is a key part of any e-export checklist.

Many sellers ask, “Can I send any product via micro export (ETGB)?” Micro export is suitable for low-volume shipments, but some products are subject to restrictions. The export suitability of the product must therefore be clarified before dispatch.

Key factors to check for customs compliance:

• The HS code (GTIP) is correctly determined

• Product pricing is accurate and realistic

• Export invoices match the correct export format

• Packaging is in line with international standards

• Country-specific prohibited product lists are checked

• Insurance, returns and damage processes are planned

For Amazon FBA shipments, there are additional requirements. Fully compliant packaging for the fulfillment center, correct barcoding and carton labelling are mandatory. In the FBM model, the seller ships directly from their own warehouse and is responsible for the entire process.

A lack of logistics compliance will lower your performance metrics on the platform and negatively affect customer satisfaction. That’s why the logistics section of your checklist must be managed with great care.

Compliance with Platform Policies

Each platform in e-export has its own specific rules. Amazon, eBay, Etsy, TrendyolGO, Alibaba and others enforce strict standards for product quality, imagery, legal obligations and customer safety.

At this stage sellers often ask, “Why was my listing suspended by the platform?” The answer is usually non-compliance: missing documentation, wrong category, prohibited products or incorrect labelling all play a role in account or listing suspensions.

Key points to check for platform compliance:

• Product descriptions are accurate and not misleading

• Images meet the platform’s content and quality rules

• Trademark and intellectual property rights are respected

• Stated delivery times are met consistently

• Customer messages are answered within the required time frame

Since each platform has different rules, compliance criteria should be taken into account when choosing where to sell in your e-export strategy.

Payment, Fund Transfer and Financial Compliance

Financial compliance in e-export is critical both for tax management and for collecting revenues securely. Payouts from platforms like Amazon, Etsy or eBay are only made to verified company accounts.

At this point, the question “Is it okay to receive payments via Papara, Wise or Payoneer?” is often raised. Major platforms like Amazon usually accept providers such as Payoneer, Wise and similar payment infrastructures. However, the account must still pass business verification before payouts are made.

Key items to check in financial compliance:

• The company bank account is correctly registered with the platform

• Bank statements reflect the same address as company records

• Foreign currency revenues are recorded correctly

• Transactions are executed in line with e-export incentive requirements

• Payment providers are compliant with the laws of the relevant countries

Managing this process correctly allows you to benefit from tax advantages and also prevents unnecessary deductions and payout delays on the platform side.

Customer Experience and Post-Sales Compliance

E-export doesn’t end once the product has been shipped. Customer support, returns and post-sales communication are among the most critical areas influencing platform performance. Since Amazon has very customer-centric policies, poor customer experience can even result in account closure.

One important question sellers often ask is: “How can I provide fast support to international customers?” The answer lies in automation, well-designed response templates and professional e-export process management.

Customer support items that should be on your compliance checklist:

• Responding to customer messages within 24 hours

• Adapting return policies for each country where you sell

• Defining a strategy for handling negative reviews

• Sharing shipment tracking information consistently

• Providing clear, user-friendly instructions for product use

Following these steps helps your brand maintain a strong and lasting presence in international markets.

Digital Marketing and Brand Compliance

In e-export, brand identity is one of your biggest competitive advantages. However, brand management also requires compliance. In particular, logo use, packaging, design and visual content creation must meet international standards.

At this point, sellers often ask, “Can I sell on Amazon without trademark registration?” Yes, you can sell; but without trademark registration, you cannot fully protect your brand or register it in Amazon Brand Registry. This creates a serious disadvantage for long-term growth.

Key checks for brand compliance:

• Trademark registration or at least an active application process

• Product packaging aligned with international standards

• Visuals created in full respect of copyright

• Ad creatives compliant with platform advertising policies

• A clear, consistent brand tone and communication strategy

Such alignment helps your brand move forward with a strong image in global markets.

An e-export compliance checklist provides a solid and reliable foundation for your global sales journey. Every step—from company structure and product certification to customs procedures and customer experience—is interconnected. For this reason, a compliance checklist is not only necessary at the start, but also essential for building a sustainable e-export strategy. With a well-prepared checklist, sellers can minimize risk and grow much faster on Amazon, Etsy and other platforms.