ADR and ODR in Shopify: ANPC Legal Obligation and How to Add Them Correctly

11 September 2025 Alpar Torok

Do I have to display ADR and ODR links on my Shopify store?

Partly. If you sell online in Romania to individuals, the ADR (SAL) link is still not optional. The law requires you to display it, even if you don't take orders directly through a cart and even if you direct users to WhatsApp or a form. The ODR (SOL) platform, on the other hand, is no longer a requirement — it was shut down by the European Commission, and we explain exactly what that means for your store below.

Update, September 2026: The ODR (SOL) platform was officially discontinued as of 20 July 2025, under Regulation (EU) 2024/3228. The European Commission confirms this on its official page. ADR (SAL) remains valid and mandatory — ANPC even updated its system in 2026 to align with the new EU rules. If you still have the ODR icon or link on your site, you can remove it.

If you use Shopify, the good news is you can add the ADR icon easily without ruining your mobile design.

What do ADR and ODR mean?

ADR (SAL in Romanian) stands for Alternative Dispute Resolution. It is the ANPC platform where customers can submit complaints without going to court. It's not complicated, but you must provide them with this option. ADR is still active and mandatory.

ODR (SOL in Romanian) stood for Online Dispute Resolution — the official European Union platform for complaints between customers and online stores. The platform has not been operational since 20 July 2025, per the European Commission's official announcement: for disputes, consumers are now directed to national alternative dispute resolution bodies (in Romania, ADR/ANPC) or to the list of certified bodies available on the Commission's website.

ODR Icon (platform discontinued as of 20 July 2025)

The official link that remains valid is:

https://anpc.ro/ce-este-sal/ (ADR)

The old ODR link (ec.europa.eu/consumers/odr) no longer functions as a dispute resolution tool and no longer needs to appear on your site.

What does the law say?

The law is clear:

ANPC Order no. 449/2022 — updated by ANPC in 2026 to align the ADR system with the new EU rules
Directive 2013/11/EU — the legal basis for ADR, still in force
~~Regulation (EU) 524/2013~~ — the act that established the ODR platform, repealed by Regulation (EU) 2024/3228, applicable as of 20 July 2025

If you sell products or services online to individuals, you must display the ADR link on your site in a visible manner (the ODR link no longer applies). ANPC also recommends using a clear icon, not just a text link hidden in the footer.

Who must display the ADR icon?

Depending on your website's activity, displaying the ADR icon may or may not be mandatory (the ODR obligation no longer applies to anyone, regardless of site type). Below is a guidance table:

Site Type / Activity	Mandatory?	Notes
Online store with physical products	YES	E.g.: clothing, electronics, toys
Online services sold to individuals	YES	E.g.: subscriptions, courses, consultations
Orders via WhatsApp, email, or phone	YES	Presenting a product + taking orders = commerce
Online bookings (e.g.: salons, hotels)	YES	Even if payment is made physically
Presentation site with an order form	YES	Still considered online commerce
B2B site without prices or cart	NO	If you do not target individual consumers
Personal blog without sales or ads	NO	Online commerce laws do not apply
NGO without product/service sales	NO	Unless you sell t-shirts, tickets, etc.
Site redirecting to eMAG/Amazon etc.	YES	If you are the merchant and your site promotes it
Influencers with affiliate links	NO	Other rules apply (e.g.: marking sponsored content)

Recommendation: if you have the slightest doubt and you sell or present products to the public, it's safer to display the ADR link. It doesn't hurt anyone and saves you from trouble.

Where should the link be placed?

The safest approach is to place it in the following locations:

In the footer – visible on all pages
On the Terms and Conditions page
(Optional) In order confirmation emails

The recommended size for the icon is 250x50px. You can use the official icon or integrate it into a more discreet but visible design.

HTML code that works correctly on mobile

We have tested several versions, and this is the final formula that looks great on both desktop and mobile—without causing horizontal scrolling or breaking the theme layout. We've already removed the ODR link from the code below, since it's no longer needed:

<div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; width: 100%;">
  <div style="max-width: 1200px; margin: 0 auto; padding: 20px 15px; display: flex; flex-wrap: wrap; justify-content: center; gap: 20px; text-align: center;">
    <a href="https://anpc.ro/ce-este-sal/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" aria-describedby="a11y-external-message">
      <img src="{ADR IMAGE URL}" alt="What is ADR?" style="width: 250px; max-width: 100%; height: auto;">
    </a>
  </div>
</div>

Where to insert it in Shopify

You have two options:

1. Your theme supports custom sections (Online Store 2.0)

Go to Online Store > Customize
Open the footer
Add a Custom Liquid block and insert the code above

2. Theme does not allow Custom Liquid in the footer

Go to Online Store > Edit code
Open the footer.liquid file
Add the code before </footer>

Why you shouldn't ignore it?

Beyond the legal aspect, the ADR icon signals that you are serious and transparent. Most customers won't click it, but the mere fact that it is there matters. And if ANPC ever comes for an inspection, you won't be caught off guard.

Quick Recap

Element	Mandatory?	Where to place
ADR Link	Yes	Footer, Terms and Conditions
ODR Link	No longer exists — platform discontinued as of 20 July 2025	Remove it if it's still on your site
Visible Icon (ADR)	Recommended	On-site, 250x50px
Compatible HTML Code	Practically yes	Custom block or `footer.liquid`

Full code to insert in Shopify (Custom Liquid or footer)

<div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; width: 100%;">
  <div style="max-width: 1200px; margin: 0 auto; padding: 20px 15px; display: flex; flex-wrap: wrap; justify-content: center; gap: 20px; text-align: center;">
    <a href="https://anpc.ro/ce-este-sal/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" aria-describedby="a11y-external-message">
      <img src="{ ADR image URL uploaded under contents }" alt="What is ADR?" style="width: 250px; max-width: 100%; height: auto;">
    </a>
  </div>
</div>

Not long ago, we published an article regarding legal requirements for a website in Romania. Since then, new requirements have appeared too (e.g. accessibility), so it's worth revisiting the topic regularly.

Final thought

In e-commerce, it's not just products that sell. How you show you follow the rules matters too. ADR won't bring you direct conversions, but it can prevent unpleasant issues and build trust — and the ODR platform's story is a good reminder that these rules change over time and are worth checking on. And honestly, in Shopify the ADR icon can really be added in two minutes. So… put it up and move on to what matters: growing your sales.

Prefer not to deal with setting up or updating the ADR and ODR icons yourself?

We have already integrated them into dozens of Shopify sites—no horizontal scrolling, no breaking the theme, no headaches.

If you want us to add the ADR icon or remove the old ODR link from your site, we can do it quickly and at no cost.

All you have to do is let us know.

Schedule a 15-minute talk

Note: The information in this article is based on our experience working with online stores and our public interpretation of ANPC and EU regulations. This text does not constitute legal advice. For specific situations or legal uncertainties, we recommend consulting a lawyer or a legal compliance specialist.