From September 27, 2026, all online shops in the EU must display a standardized warranty label on product pages. EU Regulation 2024/825 affects approximately 406,000 online retailers in Germany alone (Doofinder). The label is designed to show consumers at a glance what warranty rights they have — and whether the manufacturer offers an additional guarantee. Those who miss the deadline risk warnings and significant fines.
What the EU Warranty Label Means
The EU warranty label is a uniform visual identifier that makes consumers' legal warranty rights transparent during online purchases. The EU Commission is responding to a fundamental problem: 35% of EU consumers have only limited knowledge of their consumer rights (EU Consumer Scoreboard 2025). At the same time, 90% of consumers want warranty information directly at the point of purchase (forsa/vzbv).
Regulation (EU) 2024/825 introduces two label types: The blue warranty label for the legal warranty and the yellow GARAN label for voluntary manufacturer guarantees exceeding two years. Both labels follow a fixed design with specified colors, fonts and minimum sizes. For e-commerce merchants, this means concrete adjustments to product pages, templates and data management.
The background: The EU e-commerce market reached a turnover of EUR 842 billion with growth of 7% in 2024 (EuroCommerce Report 2025). At the same time, the probability of problems with online purchases is 60% higher than in physical retail (EU Consumer Scoreboard 2025). The label is intended to reduce this trust deficit and strengthen cross-border trade — 35% of EU consumers already purchased in another EU country in 2024 (EU Consumer Scoreboard 2025).
Timeline and Legal Framework
EU Regulation 2024/825 was adopted as part of the Empowering Consumers Directive and defines clear deadlines for national transposition and the application obligation for merchants.
- 2024: Adoption of EU Regulation 2024/825
- March 27, 2026: Deadline for national transposition in all EU member states
- September 27, 2026: Application obligation — the label must be displayed on all product pages
The national transposition deadline (March 27, 2026) applies to legislators. For merchants: By September 27, 2026, the label must be visible in every product listing — both physical and digital. Given the technical requirements for shop systems, implementation should be planned early.
The regulation applies directly in all EU member states. German merchants selling to other EU countries may need to provide labels in multiple languages. In Germany, the Civil Code (BGB, sections 434 ff.) and the EGBGB are expected to be amended to anchor the label requirement in national law.
The Two Label Types in Detail
The EU regulation defines two different labels with clearly distinct functions and designs. The official font is Inter (Regular, SemiBold, ExtraBold), and the colors are precisely specified.
| Property | Warranty Label (blue) | GARAN Label (yellow) |
|---|---|---|
| Mandatory | Always — for every product | Only with manufacturer guarantee >2 years |
| Header color | Pantone Reflex Blue C (Blue) | Pantone Yellow C (Yellow) |
| Additional colors | Black, White | Black, White, Blue |
| Content | Legal warranty duration, seller, burden of proof reversal | Guarantee duration, guarantor, guarantee conditions |
| Minimum size (physical) | 95 × 100 mm | 95 × 100 mm |
| Online display | Clearly visible on product page | Clearly visible next to warranty label |
The blue warranty label is mandatory for every merchant — regardless of product range or company size. It informs about the legal warranty duration (typically 24 months), the responsible seller and the duration of the burden of proof reversal.
The yellow GARAN label is only required when the manufacturer offers a voluntary guarantee beyond the legal warranty. According to the EU Consumer Scoreboard 2025, only 47% of mystery shopping tests even received guarantee information — the GARAN label is designed to create transparency here. For Shopware shops and WooCommerce shops, this means product data must be extended with guarantee fields.
Technical Implementation in the Online Shop
Integrating the EU warranty label requires adjustments on multiple levels. With approximately 50.1 million e-commerce users in Germany (Doofinder), the display must function flawlessly on all devices and in all common browsers.
Template Integration
Embed label HTML/CSS in product page templates — below the price, above the cart button or in the product detail tab
Extend Data Model
Create product attributes for warranty duration, burden of proof reversal, guarantor and guarantee duration in the database
Multilingual Support
Provide label texts in all sales languages — relevant for shops with international shipping within the EU
Responsive Design
Label must be readable on desktop, tablet and smartphone — maintain minimum font sizes and contrast ratios
Performance
Implement label as CSS/HTML instead of images — for fast loading times and accessible rendering
Structured Data
Add Schema.org markup for warranty and guarantee — supports Google Rich Snippets
The technical implementation depends on the shop system. With Shopware 6 (Community Edition), the label can be realized through a custom plugin or template overrides. With WooCommerce, custom fields or a dedicated plugin are suitable options. The key requirement is that label data can be maintained per product — as warranty duration and guarantee conditions may vary by product category. Online shops that have already optimized their technical SEO and Core Web Vitals will find it easier to implement additional compliance requirements.
For online display, the same design specifications apply as for physical labels. The Inter font is freely available as an open-source font. The color values (Pantone Reflex Blue C and Pantone Yellow C) must be converted to the corresponding HEX or RGB values. The EU Commission provides official templates that serve as reference.
Warning Risks and Common Mistakes
Experience with previous regulations shows: New obligations in e-commerce are monitored intensively. 18% of online retailers received a warning in 2024 — an increase of 50% compared to 2023 (Händlerbund 2025). Similar warning waves are expected with the warranty label, particularly in the first weeks after the deadline.
- Missing label: The warranty label is not displayed on product pages — the most common violation, as many shops underestimate the deadline
- Wrong colors or font: Deviations from the official Pantone colors or use of a font other than Inter
- Incomplete information: Missing indication of burden of proof reversal duration or the responsible seller
- Missing GARAN label despite manufacturer guarantee: If the manufacturer offers a guarantee >2 years, the yellow label is mandatory — often overlooked
- Only visible on the homepage: The label must appear on every individual product page, not just in the terms or a central info page
- Missing accessibility: Labels as non-scalable images without alt text — additionally violates the accessibility requirements
- Outdated warranty duration: When laws change, label data must be updated promptly
Additionally: 45% of consumers have already encountered online fraud (EU Consumer Scoreboard 2025). The absence of the official label could be interpreted by consumers as a warning sign and further undermine trust in the shop. Professional consulting helps avoid typical pitfalls.
Checklist for Shop Adaptation
To be prepared before the deadline on September 27, 2026, we recommend the following roadmap. 74% of consumers want durability-based warranty coverage (forsa/vzbv) — showing how closely this topic is being followed.
Analysis (now): Review product range for warranty and guarantee data · Evaluate shop system compatibility · Schedule a consultationData model (Q2 2026): Create product attributes for warranty duration, burden of proof reversal and guarantee data · Migrate existing product data · Set up CSV/API import for bulk maintenance Template integration (Q2 2026): Integrate label HTML/CSS into product page templates · Perform responsive tests on all devices · Ensure accessibility compliance Quality assurance (Q3 2026): Spot-check all product pages · Automated tests for label rendering · Legal review by specialized attorney Go-live (before Sept 27, 2026): Activate labels in production · Set up monitoring · Train staff
Those who have already implemented the withdrawal button know the process: plan early, implement cleanly, test thoroughly. The EU warranty label requires the same structured approach — with the difference that not just a single button, but the entire product data management is affected. The connection to the right to repair also shows that the EU is consistently pushing for more consumer transparency in e-commerce. The BFSG accessibility requirement also belongs on the same implementation roadmap. Those simultaneously working on SEO recovery after the Google Core Update March 2026 can bundle the technical shop adjustments.
This article is based on: EU Regulation 2024/825, EU Consumer Scoreboard 2025, EuroCommerce Report 2025, forsa/vzbv warranty survey, Händlerbund E-Commerce Legal Report 2025 and Doofinder E-Commerce Study Germany. The figures mentioned may vary depending on the time of collection. Status: March 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions About the EU Warranty Label
Yes, EU Regulation 2024/825 makes no exceptions based on company size. All merchants selling goods to consumers in the EU must display the warranty label on their product pages from September 27, 2026 — regardless of turnover or number of employees.
No, the yellow GARAN label is only mandatory when the manufacturer offers a voluntary guarantee that exceeds the legal warranty of two years. If the manufacturer does not offer such a guarantee, the blue warranty label alone is sufficient.
The EU regulation does not prescribe an exact position but requires clearly visible placement on the product page. A position near the price or product description is recommended — where consumers make purchasing decisions.
The specific sanctions are determined by each EU member state as part of national transposition. In Germany, warnings from competitors or consumer protection associations are typically expected. Additionally, fines may be imposed by supervisory authorities.
As of March 2026, no official plugins for Shopware Community Edition or WooCommerce are available yet. Implementation is typically done through custom development or template modifications. Initial plugin solutions are expected to appear during the second quarter of 2026.
The EU warranty label primarily applies to goods (physical products). Separate warranty regulations apply to digital content and services. Merchants selling both physical and digital products should clearly distinguish between them in their shop system.