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New warranty and guarantee labels: What online retailers should prepare for now
From 27 September 2026, new information obligations will apply in the European Union for online retail. The aim is to inform consumers across Europe about their rights in a consistent and easy-to-understand way. For retailers, this means new labels, new display requirements, and additional coordination effort within their systems.
What does this specifically involve?
With EU Directive 2024/825, the existing Consumer Rights Directive is being expanded. In the future, information on statutory warranty rights and certain guarantees will no longer have to be provided only in the “fine print”, but via standardised EU labels – similar to the well-known energy efficiency labels.
Two labels, two use cases
- Warranty label
This label is mandatory and provides information about the statutory warranty (at least two years for new goods). It applies regardless of whether an additional guarantee is offered. - Guarantee label
This label is only required if a durability guarantee of more than two years is granted for a product – usually by the manufacturer. It is product-specific and includes, among other things, information about the brand and the guarantee period.
Both labels are intended to include a QR code with further information.
What retailers should keep in mind now
🗓 Plan early
Retailers should already mark early September 2026 in their calendars. The new obligations – especially those related to relevant manufacturer guarantees – cannot be implemented at short notice. Adjustments to product data, templates, PIM and shop systems require sufficient lead time.
👁 Display requirements not yet finally defined
It is currently still unclear how exactly the labels must be displayed in online shops. What is clear, however, is that the information must be clearly visible and prominently presented. Retailers should therefore plan flexibly and prepare their system landscape for different display variants.
What does this mean for online shops?
Even though details on the final implementation are still to follow, one thing is already becoming clear:
- Product data will need to be structured and complete in the future
- Guarantee information will gain operational relevance
- Close integration between PIM, shop systems and marketplaces will become more important
Especially for larger product ranges, the introduction of guarantee labels may lead to additional maintenance effort – particularly when guarantees vary from product to product.
Fazit
After the obligation to integrate a cancellation button, the new warranty and guarantee labels also bring greater standardisation – but at the same time new requirements for retailers. Those who prepare early create planning certainty and avoid time pressure shortly before the deadline.
We will keep an eye on developments for you and keep you informed on our blog about new updates, the concrete design of the labels and possible technical implementation approaches.
