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prepared by the European Commission, published in the EBA Q&A tool · not legislation · published 3 Dec 2021 [Final Q&A]","attribution":{"prepared_by":"European Commission","published_by":"EBA","published_in":"EBA Single Rulebook Q&A tool","document_type":"qa_answer","legal_nature":"not_legislation","addressees":"not stated in the document","dates":{"published_on":"2021-12-03","question_submitted_on":"2020-07-06","locators":{"published_on":"EBA Q&A register entry 2020_5354, field 'Final publishing date'","question_submitted_on":"EBA Q&A register entry 2020_5354, field 'Submission date'"}},"adoption":null}},"provenance":{"official_url":"https://www.eba.europa.eu/single-rule-book-qa/qna/view/publicId/2020_5354","check":{"result":"matched","checked_at":"2026-10-26","against":"the EBA publication"},"repo_path":"spaces/psd2/level-3/q-and-a/eba/eba-qa-2020-5354-the-implementation-of-commercial-agent-exclusion-for-e.md","body_sha256":"ba5bcd2e4b89121ab43bee40c9788c47425a576fff98a77de610c78cdbd62a2b"},"units":[],"markdown":"---\ntitle: \"EBA Q&A 2020_5354 — Q&A — The implementation of commercial agent exclusion [Final Q&A]\"\nshortTitle: \"EBA Q&A 2020_5354 — Q&A — The implementation of commercial agent exclusion [Final Q&A]\"\nanswer_id: EBA_QA_2020_5354\nstatus: \"Final Q&A\"\ntype: qa\ninstrument_type: qa\nauthority: EBA\nbinding: false\nbinding_character: non_binding\nlegal_status: in_force\nregulation: \"PSD2\"\npsd2_level3: true\nmica_level2: false\nlegal_basis: \"Article 3 PSD2\"\ndate: 3 December 2021\nsource_link: https://www.eba.europa.eu/single-rule-book-qa/qna/view/publicId/2020_5354\nlifecycle: \"Final Q&A\"\ntext_version: \"EBA Q&A register, 3 December 2021\"\nsource_url: \"https://www.eba.europa.eu/single-rule-book-qa/qna/view/publicId/2020_5354\"\ncheck_status: matched\nverified: true\nlast_checked: 2026-10-26\nchecked_against: \"the EBA publication\"\nsource:\n  prepared_by: \"European Commission\"\n  published_by: \"EBA\"\n  published_in: \"EBA Single Rulebook Q&A tool\"\n  evidence:\n    prepared_by: \"Answer prepared by the European Commission because it is a matter of interpretation of Union law.\"\n    locator: \"EBA Q&A register entry 2020_5354, field 'Answer prepared by'\"\ndocument_type: \"qa_answer\"\nlegal_nature: \"not_legislation\"\naddressees: \"not stated in the document\"\ndates:\n  published_on: \"2021-12-03\"\n  question_submitted_on: \"2020-07-06\"\n  locators:\n    published_on: \"EBA Q&A register entry 2020_5354, field 'Final publishing date'\"\n    question_submitted_on: \"EBA Q&A register entry 2020_5354, field 'Submission date'\"\nlifecycle_label: \"Final Q&A\"\n---\n\n**Answer prepared by the European Commission, published in the EBA Q&A tool · not legislation · published 3 Dec 2021 [Final Q&A]**\n\n*Final Q&A · EBA Q&A register, 3 December 2021 · Checked against the EBA publication on 26 Oct 2026 · [Official source](https://www.eba.europa.eu/single-rule-book-qa/qna/view/publicId/2020_5354)*\n\n| | |\n|---|---|\n| **Full title** | EBA Q&A 2020_5354 — Q&A — The implementation of commercial agent exclusion \\[Final Q&A\\] |\n| **Prepared by** | European Commission |\n| **Published by** | EBA, in the EBA Single Rulebook Q&A tool |\n| **Reference** | EBA_QA_2020_5354 |\n| **Document type** | Q&A |\n| **Legal nature** | Not legislation |\n| **Addressees** | Not stated in the document |\n| **Dates** | Published 3 December 2021; question submitted 6 July 2020 |\n| **Legal basis** | Article 3 PSD2 |\n| **Related instruments** | None recorded |\n| **Text on this page** | Word for word — the full text of the EBA publication |\n\n**The implementation of commercial agent exclusion for e-commerce platforms**\n\n### Question\n\nShould the settlement of the debt by an e-commerce platform be considered a sufficient reason to exclude the e-commerce platform from the scope of PSD2 or an indispensable requirement for a commercial agent mandate?\n\n### Background\n\nAccording to Article 3 of PSD2, the directive does not apply to payment transactions from the payer to the payee through a commercial agent authorised via an agreement to negotiate or conclude the sale or purchase of products or services on behalf of only the payer or only the payee.\n\nRecital (11) also states that differing application of this exclusion in EU distort competition in the payment market.\n\nSome e-commerce platforms that are managing the flow of payments from payer to payee collect the payments before the products/services are delivered and transfer the aggregate amounts to the payee on a regular basis, in principle, monthly. If the payer does not receive the products, the platform or the seller reimburses the amounts paid in advance. As long as the money is in its possession, the platform is in absolute control of that money without any safeguarding requirements. These e-commerce platforms invoke the commercial agent exclusion because the contracts between the platforms and the payees ensure that the payments made by the payers to the platforms constitute settlement of the payer's debt to the payee.\n\n***\n\n### Answer\n\nHaving regard to Article 3, point (b) of Directive (EU) 2015/2366 (PSD2) and recital 11 PSD2, an e- commerce platform that receives payment on behalf of the payee, where such receipt constitutes settlement of the payer's debt to the payee, is not to be excluded by default from the scope of PSD2.\n\nThe settlement of the payer´s debt to the payee is not in itself to be a reason to exclude the e- commerce platform from the PSD2 scope. This would otherwise affect the protection of both buyers and sellers, as guaranteed by PSD2, and the competition in the payment market would be distorted.\n\nDisclaimer:\n\nThe answers clarify provisions already contained in the applicable legislation. They do not extend in any way the rights and obligations deriving from such legislation nor do they introduce any additional requirements for the concerned operators and competent authorities. The answers are merely intended to assist natural or legal persons, including competent authorities and Union institutions and bodies in clarifying the application or implementation of the relevant legal provisions. Only the Court of Justice of the European Union is competent to authoritatively interpret Union law. The views expressed in the internal Commission Decision cannot prejudge the position that the European Commission might take before the Union and national courts.\n\n***\n\n**Source:** [EBA original document](https://www.eba.europa.eu/single-rule-book-qa/qna/view/publicId/2020_5354)\n\n## Related Level 1 articles\n\n- [Article 3 — Exclusions](../../../articles/3.md)\n"}