The European Banking Authority moved the deadline for the migration of e-commerce card-based payment transactions to strong customer authentication standards to Dec. 31, 2020, following concerns that small e-merchants would not have enough time to comply.

In June, the EBA acknowledged the complexity of payments markets across the EU and the challenges of the new rules, which were set to take effect Sept. 14. Some payment services firms were allowed an extension upon receiving clearance from regulators.

The extension implies that regulators will focus on monitoring migration plans instead of pursuing immediate enforcement actions against firms that fail to comply, rather than a delay in the application date of the requirements, the EBA said.