Since September 27, 2026, every store selling in the EU — online or physical — must display a harmonised EU notice about the legal warranty on products, including a QR code linking to extra information. If you sell online, this directly affects your product pages: it’s not just a sign for a physical shop, it’s text and a link that also need to appear on your website.
What the new rule actually requires
- Mandatory harmonised notice: informs buyers that products carry a minimum 2-year legal warranty across the EU.
- Some countries go further: Spain’s legal warranty, for example, is 3 years — stores selling there need to reflect that figure, not the EU minimum.
- QR code: must link to expanded information about the buyer’s warranty rights.
- GARAN seal: a new, optional mark certifying a real extended warranty (beyond the legal minimum) when the manufacturer genuinely offers one — it can’t be used unless that extra coverage actually exists.
What to do on your online store this week
- Check your product pages — the warranty notice needs to be visible, not buried in a separate policy page.
- Create or link a QR code to a page with the extended warranty information (period, conditions, claims process).
- Don’t use the GARAN seal unless you offer coverage beyond the legal minimum — using it without that can count as misleading advertising.
- Review your general terms of sale so they don’t contradict the new notice.
Why this isn’t just “ticking a legal box”
A product page that shows the warranty clearly reduces doubt before the purchase — exactly what we covered in what a product page actually needs to convert: answering objections before they come up. Handled well, this regulatory change isn’t just paperwork, it’s a chance to build more trust right at the moment someone decides to buy.
Frequently asked questions
Does this apply to small stores too, or only large retailers?
It applies to any store selling in the EU, regardless of size. There’s no exemption for small businesses or freelancers.
What happens if I don’t update my product pages?
It’s a regulatory breach that can lead to consumer-protection penalties, on top of the reputational risk if a customer notices and reports it.
Do I need to generate the QR code myself?
Yes — it should point to your own page (or the official warranty information) prepared for this purpose; there’s no single official generator, so it needs to be set up as part of the product page.
If you’d like us to review your product pages and get this properly implemented in your store, get in touch.