NACE 47.9 – Retail Trade Not in Stores, Stalls or Markets | Public Tenders

Definition: NACE 47.9 covers retail trade that does not take place in fixed retail premises, at market stalls or in street trade — including mail order, online trade, door-to-door sales and other forms of direct selling. In public procurement, this group is relevant when public bodies procure goods via online platforms or catalogue orders and when mail order traders act as bidders for public supply contracts.

Legal basis: NACE Rev. 2 (Regulation (EC) No 1893/2006) · Last updated: January 2026

What does NACE 47.9 cover?

NACE 47.9 (Retail trade not in stores, stalls or markets) classifies mail order and online retailers — a segment of growing importance in public procurement, as public bodies are increasingly purchasing via digital marketplaces and e-procurement systems.

Group 47.9 within Section G (Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles) and Division 47 (Retail trade) is broken down into the following classes:

Public contracting authorities under NACE 47.9 are all public bodies that procure goods via mail order or online channels for their needs — from office supplies through IT accessories to consumables. Mail order and online retailers act as bidders for supply contracts for standardised goods.

Public Tenders: Activities under NACE 47.9

Online and mail order trade are becoming increasingly important in public procurement: e-procurement systems, electronic marketplaces and dynamic purchasing systems enable public bodies to source standardised goods efficiently via digital channels.

Typical types of contract

• Office supplies and consumables via online catalogues: Framework agreements for the supply of office consumables, printer cartridges and consumable materials via digital ordering systems
• IT accessories and small electronics: Procurement of cables, peripherals, storage media and accessories via online marketplaces
• Dynamic purchasing systems (DPS): Establishment of electronic platforms for ongoing procurement of standardised products, in which authorised mail order traders can participate on a continuous basis
• Framework agreements with online retailers: Multi-year supply contracts with mail order traders for standardised product groups with call-off orders
• Electronic catalogue procurement: Integration of trader catalogues into e-procurement systems (e.g. OCI interfaces) from which public bodies order directly
• Direct delivery for decentralised structures: Mail order solutions for supplying schools, public offices and outposts without central warehousing

Thresholds and procedure types

Supply contracts under NACE 47.9 are subject to the same thresholds as all supply contracts: EUR 221,000 (central government) or EUR 443,000 (other contracting authorities) for the EU-wide tendering obligation (as of 2024/2025). Dynamic purchasing systems under Article 34 of Directive 2014/24/EU are a particularly suitable instrument for continuous procurement of goods in the online segment.

Relevant CPV codes for NACE 47.9

Since NACE 47.9 describes a sales channel rather than a product category, the relevant CPV codes vary significantly depending on the goods procured. What matters is the product, not the channel.

Current tenders with these CPV codes can be found on TED (Tenders Electronic Daily) as well as on national procurement platforms.

For whom is NACE 47.9 relevant in public procurement?

Public contracting authorities

Federal authorities and ministries are increasingly using central e-procurement platforms for the procurement of standard goods via mail order traders. Municipal administrations benefit from framework agreements with online retailers for decentralised orders. Schools and educational institutions often source consumables and equipment via catalogue systems. Central procurement bodies such as Bundesbeschaffung GmbH (BBG) in Austria or the federal procurement office (BeschA) in Germany conclude framework agreements with online retailers that can be used by all connected public bodies.

Companies and bidders

Online and mail order traders wishing to participate in public tenders must meet the following requirements:

• Technical requirements: Integration into e-procurement systems (OCI/cXML interfaces, electronic invoicing under EN 16931), electronic catalogue maintenance
• Logistics and delivery capability: Evidence of delivery times, warehousing, delivery reliability — short delivery times (1–3 working days) are frequently set as a minimum requirement
• Economic capacity: Annual turnover, insurance certificates, credit ratings
• Product compliance: CE marking, REACH compliance, product-specific standards for the goods supplied

For dynamic purchasing systems, interested traders need only undergo a simplified eligibility check — admission to the system is open in principle, provided the minimum requirements are met.

NACE 47.9 in context: Section G and Division 47

NACE 47.9 marks the profound shift in retail towards digital sales channels — a shift that is also reshaping public procurement through e-procurement and digital marketplaces.

• NACE G – Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles: Parent section covering all trading activities
• NACE 47 – Retail trade: Division covering all in-store and non-store retail trade
• NACE 47.8 – Retail sale via stalls and markets: Market trade and mobile sales points
• NACE 46 – Wholesale trade: Trade not focused on retail, B2B supply chains

Frequently asked questions about NACE 47.9 and public tenders

Which companies fall under NACE 47.9?
Online retailers, mail order traders and direct selling companies generating their turnover predominantly through non-store channels. These include pure e-commerce retailers as well as catalogue mail order companies and direct sales companies specialising in public contracting authorities.

Can online retailers without a physical store participate in public tenders?
Yes, without restriction. Public procurement law does not distinguish by sales channel. What matters is the ability to deliver the tendered services under the required conditions (quality, delivery time, price).

What is a dynamic purchasing system and how do I take part?
A dynamic purchasing system (DPS) under Article 34 of Directive 2014/24/EU is an electronic procedure for procuring commonly available services. Interested undertakings may submit a request to participate at any time and are admitted following an eligibility check. Individual contracts are then awarded through mini-competitions among the admitted bidders.

Do I have to issue electronic invoices?
Yes. In public procurement, electronic invoicing under the E-Invoicing Directive (2014/55/EU) and the European standard EN 16931 is increasingly mandatory. In Germany, electronic invoicing has been mandatory for federal authorities since 2020, in Austria since 2014. Online traders must ensure that their systems can generate structured electronic invoices.

Last updated: January 2026
All information is provided without guarantee. For legally binding advice, please consult a law firm specialising in public procurement law.