Three EU rules your online shop has to show in 2026

1. The withdrawal function

Directive (EU) 2023/2673 added Article 11a to the Consumer Rights Directive. Since 19 June 2026, a shop that concludes contracts online has to give consumers a way to withdraw from the contract online, as easily as they bought.

What it has to do

• A clearly labelled function, with the words "withdraw from contract here" or an equally unambiguous phrase in the customer's language. It has to be prominently displayed, easily accessible, and available for the whole withdrawal period.
• A short statement behind it. The customer gives their name, identifies the contract (for example the order number), and gives the email address or other channel for the confirmation.
• A confirmation step labelled "confirm withdrawal" or similar.
• An acknowledgement of receipt sent without undue delay on a durable medium, such as an email, with the content of the withdrawal and the date and time it was received.

Common mistakes

• Putting the function behind a customer account login. Guest buyers cannot reach it, which is hard to square with "easily accessible".
• Using a contact form with no confirmation step and no timestamped receipt.
• Only linking to the withdrawal policy text. The law asks for a function, not just information.

2. The harmonised guarantee notice and durability label

Directive (EU) 2024/825 (often called EmpCo) changed the Consumer Rights Directive so that shops have to inform consumers about guarantees in a standard EU format. Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/1960 sets the design. It applies from 27 September 2026.

Two different things

• The harmonised notice tells the customer about the legal guarantee of conformity (at least two years in every EU country). Shops have to provide it before the customer is bound by the contract.
• The harmonised label is only for products where the producer offers a commercial guarantee of durability longer than two years, at no extra cost. It shows the duration of that guarantee.

Common mistakes

• Showing the notice only in the footer or the terms. It belongs with the product information the customer sees before buying.
• Making up your own design. The format is fixed by the regulation.
• Using the durability label for a seller warranty. It is for a producer's commercial guarantee of durability.

3. Product safety information (GPSR)

The General Product Safety Regulation has applied since 13 December 2024. Article 19 says that every online product offer to EU consumers has to show, clearly and visibly:

• the manufacturer's name, registered trade name or trademark, and postal and electronic address;
• if the manufacturer is not established in the EU, the name and addresses of the responsible person in the EU;
• information that identifies the product, including a picture, its type and any other product identifier;
• any warnings or safety information, in a language consumers in the country can easily understand.

Common mistakes

• Putting this information only in a PDF or on a separate page that the product offer does not link to.
• Leaving out the responsible person in the EU when the manufacturer is outside the EU.

Quick checklist

• Log out, open your shop on a phone, and find the withdrawal button without searching.
• Submit a test withdrawal and check that the receipt email arrives with the date and time.
• Open one product page and check that the guarantee notice shows before the buy button.
• Check that the same product page shows the manufacturer, the EU responsible person if needed, and the safety information.

Doing this on Shopify

All three can be built by hand with theme code and a form. If you would rather not, our Shopify app TuxPaw: EU Withdrawal & GPSR adds the withdrawal function with timestamped receipts in all 24 EU languages, the harmonised notice and label, and GPSR safety blocks, with a free plan. See the FAQ for details.

Sources: Directive (EU) 2023/2673, Directive (EU) 2024/825, Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/1960, Regulation (EU) 2023/988.