EU legal guarantee: harmonised notice and GARAN label for online shops
Since 27 September 2026, every online shop selling goods to consumers in the European Union must remind them of their legal guarantee with a harmonised notice that looks the same in every country. And when the manufacturer offers a durability guarantee of more than two years, the shop must show it with the harmonised “GARAN” label. This guide explains what the rules say, who they apply to, the legal guarantee period in each country and how to set everything up in PrestaShop and Shopify.
Which law requires it and from when
The obligation comes from Directive (EU) 2024/825 of 28 February 2024 on empowering consumers for the green transition (known as ECGT), published in the Official Journal on 6 March 2024. It amends the Consumer Rights Directive 2011/83/EU and adds a new Article 22a. Member States had to transpose it by 27 March 2026 and apply it from 27 September 2026.
The exact design and content of the notice and the label are laid down in Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/1960 of 25 September 2025, published in the Official Journal on 2 October 2025. It is directly applicable in every country, also from 27 September 2026. The notice is in Annex I and the label in Annex II.
Notice and label: who must show what
They are two separate items designed to work together. The notice is mandatory for the trader; the label only appears when the producer offers a commercial guarantee of durability that meets certain conditions.
| Harmonised notice | Harmonised “GARAN” label | |
|---|---|---|
| What it covers | The legal guarantee of conformity: at least two years, and possibly longer under national law | The producer’s commercial guarantee of durability and its length in years |
| Who shows it | The trader selling the goods, always | The trader, when the producer offers that guarantee and passes on the information |
| When it is mandatory | In every sale of goods to consumers | If the guarantee is free of charge, covers the whole product and lasts more than two years |
| What can be edited | Nothing | Only the years, the producer’s brand and the model identifier |
| Online sales | In colour (RGB) | In colour; nested display allowed |
The harmonised notice on the legal guarantee
Under Articles 5(1)(e) and 6(1)(l) of Directive 2011/83/EU, as amended, before the consumer is bound by the contract the trader must remind them of the existence of the legal guarantee of conformity and its main elements, including its minimum duration of two years, in a prominent manner and using the harmonised notice. The notice reminds consumers of the usual situations in which they can claim, the available remedies (repair, replacement, price reduction or termination), that the seller is liable, that the period may be longer under national law and that sellers and producers may also offer commercial guarantees. It includes a QR code leading to the legal guarantee information on the “Your Europe” portal.
None of its elements may be changed. The reference colours are blue #003399 and Pantone Yellow C, plus black and white. In a physical shop it may be in colour or black and white, at least A4 in size; for distance contracts concluded through an online interface it must be in colour.
The harmonised “GARAN” label
The label is only used when the producer offers a commercial guarantee of durability at no extra cost, covering the entire product (not just one component) and lasting more than two years, and makes that information available to the trader. In that case the trader must say that the product has this guarantee, how long it lasts and remind consumers of the legal guarantee, again prominently and using the label (Articles 5(1)(ea) and 6(1)(la)).
The label shows the title “GARAN”, a mark indicating that durability is guaranteed, a calendar with the number of years, a visual reminder of the legal guarantee, a QR code and the phrase “producer guarantee in years” in all official languages. Only three fields can be edited: the years, the producer’s brand and the model identifier. The typeface is Inter and, in physical format, it measures at least 95 × 100 mm.
Where to show it in your online shop
The rules require the notice to be shown prominently and before the purchase, but they do not set an exact position on the page. Recital 28 of Directive 2024/825 gives, for the label in online sales, the example of placing it next to the image of the product. In practice, a sensible approach is:
- Product page: the notice near the price or the buy button, and the GARAN label next to the images of products that carry it.
- Cart and checkout: a reminder of the notice before the order is confirmed.
- Order confirmation email and terms of sale: as support, never as the only place.
If you use the nested display of the label (a thumbnail that expands), Annex II requires it to appear in full on the first click, mouse-over or first tap on a touchscreen.
Legal guarantee periods by country
Directive (EU) 2019/771 sets a minimum of two years (Article 10) and lets each country keep or adopt longer periods. That is why the notice refers to a minimum and to national law. Some examples:
| Country | Legal guarantee period | Presumption in favour of the consumer |
|---|---|---|
| Spain | 3 years for goods (2 for digital content and services) under the TRLGDCU, art. 120, as amended by Royal Decree-Law 7/2021 | 2 years |
| Portugal | 3 years (Decreto-Lei 84/2021) | 2 years |
| Sweden | 3 years (Konsumentköplag 2022:260) | 2 years |
| France, Belgium, Poland | 2 years | 2 years |
| Germany, Italy, Austria | 2 years | 1 year |
| Netherlands | No fixed period: depends on the expected lifespan of the product (Civil Code, Book 7) | 1 year |
| Ireland | No fixed period; claims are time-barred after 6 years (Consumer Rights Act 2022) | 1 year |
| Finland | No fixed period: depends on the expected durability (Consumer Protection Act, ch. 5) | 1 year |
If you sell to several countries, each customer should see the period that applies in their country. Our free guarantee notice generator includes the period and the law of every Member State, with a link to the official source.
Burden of proof for a lack of conformity
Article 11 of Directive 2019/771 provides that any lack of conformity that becomes apparent within one year of delivery is presumed to have existed at that time, unless proven otherwise. Countries may extend this presumption to two years. In Spain, Article 121 of the TRLGDCU sets it at two years: if the defect appears within that period, the shop has to prove that the product was delivered in good condition. After that, and until the guarantee period ends, the burden of proof shifts to the consumer.
For second-hand goods, Spanish law allows a shorter guarantee period to be agreed, but never less than one year from delivery, and a shorter presumption too. In addition, the periods are suspended while the product is being repaired (Article 122 of the TRLGDCU).
How to do it in Shopify
- Decide which countries you sell to and the period for each one.
- As a quick fix, you can create the notice with our generator and paste it into a block in your theme’s product template. Bear in mind that every customer will then see the same period.
- If you want each customer to see it in their language and with their country’s period, on the product page, in the cart and in the confirmation email, and to show the GARAN label on products that have one, you can use our EU legal guarantee notice and GARAN label app for Shopify.
- Review your shipping and returns policy and your terms of sale: the period you state must match the one in the notice.
How to do it in PrestaShop
- Collect the manufacturers’ guarantee data: which products have a commercial guarantee of durability of more than two years, with their brand and model.
- Place the notice on the product page through a visible hook (for example, next to the add-to-cart block) and repeat it at checkout.
- Show the GARAN label only on products with that guarantee, next to their images.
- Adapt the period to the customer’s delivery country if you sell abroad.
- To avoid editing every template by hand, our EU legal guarantee and GARAN label module for PrestaShop handles the notice and the label in your shop.
Common mistakes
- Using the GARAN label for the shop’s own guarantee. The label is only for the producer’s durability guarantee. A shop’s own guarantee does not use it.
- Editing the notice. Changing the texts, colours or QR code, or cropping it, means it is no longer the harmonised notice.
- Hiding it in the terms and conditions. It must be shown prominently before the purchase.
- Telling Spanish customers “2 years”. In Spain the legal guarantee for new goods is three years.
- Presenting the commercial guarantee as a replacement for the legal one. They are independent and the legal guarantee always applies.
- Using a black and white version on the website. In online sales, the notice and the label must be in colour.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need the notice if I only sell in my own country?
Yes. The obligation applies to contracts with consumers in the EU, including domestic sales.
Can I use the GARAN label if I give a three-year commercial guarantee myself?
No. The label represents the producer’s commercial guarantee of durability. If the shop offers its own commercial guarantee, it can tell customers about it, but not with the GARAN label.
What if the manufacturer does not give me its guarantee details?
The obligation to show the label arises when the producer offers that guarantee and makes the information available to the trader. The legal guarantee notice, however, must always be shown.
Which language should the notice be in?
The regulation publishes it in all official EU languages. The logical choice is to show it in the language you use to sell to each customer.
Does it also apply to digital products?
The harmonised notice and label refer to goods. For digital content and services, the directive requires a reminder of the legal guarantee, but not with the harmonised notice.
To review other consumer obligations, read our guide to the withdrawal button or check your Shopify store for free.
This guide is for information only and is not a substitute for legal advice.