As of June 19, 2026, B2C online shops must provide an electronic withdrawal function, directly accessible in the footer and without a login. Additionally, from September 27, 2026, there will be an obligation to integrate a standardized warranty label on product pages. Both requirements apply exclusively to B2C shops and necessitate specific technical and legal adjustments.
We have thoroughly examined these topics and summarize what you, as a Shopify merchant, should consider. Note: This article reflects our assessment based on project experience and is not a substitute for legal advice.
1. What will change for B2C online shops in 2026?
2026 brings two new legal obligations that directly affect B2C online shops in Germany and, consequently, many Shopify shops.
The first change: From June 19, 2026, every B2C shop must provide an electronic withdrawal function. Consumers should be able to declare their withdrawal directly online, without having to write an email or search for a long time. The second change: From September 27, 2026, a standardized warranty label on a product level will be mandatory, and under certain conditions, a guarantee label as well.
Both regulations apply exclusively to B2C shops. There is no need for action for pure B2B shops.
2. Warranty Label – What Is It and Who Is Affected?
From September 27, 2026, B2C online shops must integrate a standardized warranty label. The label is mandatory for all B2C shops and must be displayed in German and according to a prescribed template.
Warranty vs. Durability Guarantee – What’s the Difference?
Both terms sound similar but mean legally different things:
| Warranty | Durability Guarantee | |
|---|---|---|
| Basis | Legally mandatory | Voluntary |
| What is covered? | Defects already present at the time of purchase | Also defects that arise during use |
| Duration | 2 years | Individual (e.g., 5 years) |
| Example | Defective display upon purchase | 5-year guarantee on a washing machine |
The warranty label is mandatory for all B2C shops. The guarantee label is only to be included if the retailer or manufacturer offers a voluntary durability guarantee.
What Requirements Apply to the Label?
The label's form, color, and content are largely defined. The font used is Inter, and the colors are specified. Content, proportions, and form generally may not be altered.
An exception applies to the guarantee label: there, the brand or manufacturer, a model identifier, and the guarantee duration can be individually entered.
How and Where Must the Label Be Displayed?
A final official clarification on the exact display requirement is still pending. The wording of the regulation suggests that the label must be directly visible, i.e., not hidden behind an accordion or similar collapsible structure.
A possible approach for practical implementation: Integrate it visibly in the checkout for Shopify Plus shops, or alternatively in the shopping cart for shops without Plus. An official online tool for creating the labels is expected in the second quarter of 2026. National implementation at the legal level must be completed by March 27, 2026, at the latest, which may bring further clarity.
3. Electronic Withdrawal via Button – What's Mandatory?
As of June 19, 2026, B2C online shops must provide an electronic withdrawal function. The legal basis is § 356a Abs. 1 BGB. The new obligation does not replace the existing regulation; it complements it.
What Must the Withdrawal Function Do?
The withdrawal function must be constantly available and easily accessible, without a login, in the footer of the shop. It must be visually highlighted, for example, by a different font color.
Technically, it does not necessarily have to be a classic button. A highlighted hyperlink or another electronic withdrawal form is also permissible. The labeling is crucial: It must state "Cancel contract" or a similarly clear phrasing. "Cancel" is not sufficient.
The function must allow the customer to provide or confirm the following information:
- Customer name
- Contract details (which order or which part of the order is being withdrawn)
- Email address for the confirmation of receipt
Further fields, such as for reasons or comments, are only allowed on a voluntary basis.
How Does the Withdrawal Process Work for Customers?
The process is clearly regulated and consists of four steps:
- Click on "Cancel contract"
- Provide or confirm data: Name, order details, email address (for customer accounts, data can be automatically pre-filled)
- Confirmation click: e.g., "Confirm withdrawal" or an equivalent phrase
- Confirmation of receipt: Receipt must be confirmed immediately by email, including the content, date, and time of the declaration
Important: The confirmation of receipt does not constitute confirmation that a right of withdrawal exists in the specific case. This must be checked separately internally.
Does the Obligation Also Apply to Personalized Products?
Strictly speaking, the button is only mandatory if the law generally provides for a right of withdrawal for the products offered. For exclusively personalized products, this would often not be the case.
In practice, however, this boundary is often imprecise. The Händlerbund's recommendation: Install the withdrawal function anyway to avoid legal uncertainties.
4. Implementing the Withdrawal Function on Shopify: An Overview of App Solutions
There are several options for the technical implementation of the withdrawal function. We have examined the most relevant solutions in practice.
EU Withdrawal Button (free)
The app is free and covers the legal requirements. A block can be integrated into the footer, opens a pop-up with a form, and stores withdrawals in a dashboard.
Two points need to be considered in practice: The block does not seamlessly integrate visually into the footer, as it occupies its own column. Furthermore, confirmation emails sometimes end up in spam because they are sent from an external address. As a solution, the form can now be placed on a separate page. This provides a practical approach: Place a visually highlighted link in the footer that refers to this page.
To the app in the Shopify App Store: https://apps.shopify.com/eu-widerrufsbutton?locale=de
Withdrawal Manager (paid)
The Withdrawal Manager is available in two pricing plans (approx. USD 12 or USD 27 per month). The app adopts the style from the respective theme and guides the customer through the process in three steps: verification of order number and email address, optional statement of reasons, and a final summary.
Note: The third stage with optional fields could legally be considered too extensive. Confirmation emails in the standard plan also come from an external address; in the premium plan, a custom sender address is possible. A dashboard shows all withdrawals, but it does not directly affect the order status in Shopify.
To the app in the Shopify App Store: https://apps.shopify.com/widerruf-manager-de?locale=de
Manual Solutions
For shops that already use external tools, the withdrawal function can often be implemented through them:
| Tool | Feasibility | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Shopify Forms | Possible | Data directly in customer metafield; confirmation email via Shopify Flow |
| Zendesk | Possible | HTML form with API connection; confirmation trigger can be set up |
| Gorgias | Possible | Standalone Contact Form with Auto-Reply rules |
| Typeform | Possible | Form can be configured with email confirmation |
| Händlerbund | Only with existing account | HTML snippet with form link; inquiries end up in the Händlerbund backend |
Return Apps
The returns app easyReturns is already actively advertising an "EU Withdrawal-Button" in the App Store. It is likely that other tools will also follow suit in the coming weeks. We recommend checking whether your returns app already offers such a function or inquiring whether a corresponding solution will be provided by June 19, 2026.
5. Our Recommendation: What Shopify Merchants Should Do Now (Checklist)
Both obligations require specific adjustments in the shop. Here are our recommendations on what you, as a Shopify merchant, should do next:
By June 19, 2026: Integrate Withdrawal Button
- Check whether a tool is already in use that can handle the process (Zendesk, Gorgias, Typeform, etc.)
- If not: Install the free EU Withdrawal Button app and set up the form on a separate page
- Place a visually highlighted link in the footer, labeled "Cancel contract" or equivalent
- Ensure the link is accessible without a login
- Have the withdrawal instructions and data protection regulations legally reviewed and, if necessary, adjusted
By September 27, 2026: Integrate Warranty Label
- Keep an eye on the official online tool for label creation (expected Q2 2026)
- Determine the display location in the shop; currently: directly visible, not behind an accordion or similar
- For shops with a voluntary durability guarantee: Prepare the guarantee label in addition
- Follow national legal implementation (deadline March 27, 2026) for possible clarifications
General
- Obtain a legal assessment of the specific shop situation from a specialized lawyer
