EU rules for webshops in 2026: guarantee notice, green claims, packaging

Several EU rules that affect webshops started to apply in 2026: the online withdrawal function on 19 June, the right to repair on 31 July, the new Packaging Regulation (PPWR) on 12 August, and on 27 September the ban on generic green claims and the new harmonised format of the legal guarantee information. Alongside them, the accessibility rules applicable since June 2025 and the product safety regulation applicable since December 2024 still apply.

This article sums up, rule by rule, what already applies to a webshop, what only comes later, and what is often described wrongly.

Which EU rule applies to webshops from when?

What has to be shown about the legal guarantee since 27 September?

Under Directive (EU) 2024/825 (EmpCo), the trader has to remind consumers of the legal guarantee of conformity (at least two years) in a prominent manner, using a harmonised notice, also for distance contracts such as webshop purchases. The format is set by Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/1960, which applies from 27 September 2026.

• Harmonised notice: mandatory. None of its elements can be edited; its QR code leads to the guarantee page of the Your Europe portal. Online it has to be shown in colour.
• Harmonised label: only needed if the producer offers a commercial guarantee of durability of more than two years at no extra cost, covering the entire good, and passes this information to the trader. Only the number of years, the producer's name and the model identifier change on the label. Online it can be shown as a nested display, but it has to appear in its entirety on the first click, mouse roll-over or tap.
• Where: the rules require it as part of pre-contractual information, in a prominent manner; they do not name the exact place in the shop (product page, cart, checkout). The guarantee of durability also has to be pointed out directly before the consumer places the order.

Which green claims are banned in product texts?

An environmental claim is any non-mandatory message, including text, image, label, brand name or product name, suggesting that a product has a positive, zero or reduced environmental impact. Since 27 September 2026 the following are banned:

• generic environmental claims ("eco-friendly", "green", "ecological", "climate-friendly", "biodegradable" and similar) if the trader cannot demonstrate recognised excellent environmental performance (EU Ecolabel, an officially recognised EN ISO 14024 ecolabel, or performance under other EU law);
• a sustainability label not based on a certification scheme and not established by public authorities;
• claims based on greenhouse gas offsetting that a product is climate neutral or has a reduced impact;
• a claim about the whole product when it only applies to a part, and presenting legal requirements that apply to all products as a distinctive feature of the offer.

A claim is not generic if its specification appears clearly on the same medium. The directive's example: "climate friendly packaging" is generic, "100% of the energy used to produce this packaging comes from renewable sources" is specific.

What changed for packaging on 12 August?

Regulation (EU) 2025/40 (PPWR) has applied directly in every Member State since 12 August 2026. Of the rules that affect most webshops:

• Now: labels or symbols that mislead about the sustainability characteristics of packaging are banned; an environmental claim about packaging can only be made if the packaging goes beyond the regulation's minimum requirements.
• Later: the harmonised material composition label is mandatory at the earliest from 12 August 2028; a maximum empty space ratio of 50% in e-commerce packaging from 1 January 2030 (or three years after the calculation method is adopted). Filling material counts as empty space, but the rule does not apply to the product's own sales packaging.
• Shipping to other Member States: a seller who sells packaged products directly to end users in another Member State counts as a "producer" there and has to appoint an authorised representative. The Commission proposed suspending this in December 2025 (the proposal had not been adopted by October 2026) and has asked Member States not to sanction it while it is examined. Each destination country's own producer registration rules apply.

Who is covered by the accessibility rules?

The European Accessibility Act (EAA) applies to e-commerce services provided to consumers after 28 June 2025, for online sales of any product. Microenterprises providing services are exempt: fewer than 10 employees and annual turnover or balance sheet total of no more than €2 million; both conditions are needed.

The webshop has to describe in its general terms and conditions (or an equivalent document) how the service meets the requirements. The date of 28 June 2030 is not a general grace period for a shop's website: it concerns service contracts concluded earlier and products (devices) used earlier. Penalties are set by each Member State and have to be effective, proportionate and dissuasive.

What data does the product safety regulation require on the product page?

Under Article 19 of Regulation (EU) 2023/988 (GPSR), the online offer has to clearly and visibly indicate:

• the manufacturer's name, registered trade name or trade mark, postal and electronic address;
• for non-EU manufacturers, the name, postal and electronic address of the responsible person in the EU;
• information identifying the product (image, type, other identifier);
• mandatory warnings and safety information, in a language easily understood by consumers.

The obligation applies to every economic operator selling online, including reseller webshops, not only to the manufacturer.

How does this work with PrestaShop modules?

The PrestaHU Legal guarantee (EU) module adds the legal guarantee notice and the GARAN label to the shop:

• the text and artwork published in the annex of the regulation, in 24 languages, in the shopper's language;
• shown by default in the footer, in the checkout and in the confirmation e-mail; every place can be switched separately, the invoice too;
• GARAN label with the guarantee length set by brand, category or product; a compact card on the product page, the full label in the checkout and the e-mail, with a QR code;
• green-claims check: finds the banned generic environmental claims in product names and descriptions, in every language; the texts are not changed;
• missing data list: which guaranteed product misses the manufacturer or the model identifier.

The online withdrawal function comes with the PrestaHU Online withdrawal module: a "withdraw from contract" button, a confirmation button, and a confirmation e-mail with the date and time of submission.

What should you do now?

1. Guarantee notice: check that the shop shows the notice under Regulation 2025/1960 in a prominent manner, in colour; if the producer gives a guarantee of durability of more than two years, the label too.
2. Product texts: go through product names and descriptions for generic green claims; where there is no proof, make them specific or remove them.
3. Manufacturer data: add the manufacturer and its contact details to every product, and for non-EU manufacturers the responsible person in the EU.
4. Packaging: if the shop ships to other Member States, check the packaging registration there; packaging must not carry misleading environmental marks.
5. Accessibility: if the shop is not a microenterprise, add the accessibility description to the terms and conditions and have the site checked.

Frequently asked questions

Sources: Directive (EU) 2024/825, Regulation (EU) 2025/1960, Regulation (EU) 2025/40, European Commission: EPR for small businesses, European Parliament: Green Claims procedure, Directive (EU) 2019/882, Regulation (EU) 2023/988, Directive (EU) 2024/1799