# Shops and webshops must show clearer warranty information

> Shops and webshops in the EU have had to tell customers more clearly about their statutory rights since 27 September 2026. The consumer authority ACM has published a guide for businesses.

Economy · published 2026-10-30 05:33 · https://nlnow.nl/a/shops-and-webshops-must-show-clearer-warranty-notices/

Stricter EU rules on how product warranties are shown to buyers have applied since 27 September 2026. Shops and webshops must inform consumers more clearly about their statutory rights and any commercial guarantees. The Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM) has published an information page explaining what this means and how to comply.

**Why it matters**

1. Shoppers should find a notice on their statutory rights in shops and online before they buy.
2. After a purchase, buyers must also receive the notice, for example by email.
3. Products with a free manufacturer's lifetime guarantee of more than two years carry an EU GARAN label.

The rules come from the European directive “Empowering Consumers for the Green Transition”, known as the Empco directive. It sets two kinds of warranty labelling: the notice on the legal warranty (kennisgeving over de wettelijke garantie) and the EU GARAN label. Both apply to physical shops and webshops.

## The legal warranty notice

The notice is mandatory. In a physical shop it must be clearly visible and legible, for example on a poster of at least A4 size at the checkout. Online, it must be easy to find before purchase, for example through a clear link on the website. Mentioning it only in the general terms and conditions is not enough.

## The EU GARAN label

Manufacturers do not have to offer a commercial lifetime guarantee. If they do, the label applies when the guarantee lasts longer than two years, covers the whole product and is free. When the manufacturer passes this information to the seller, the seller must show the label. The seller does not have to check it with the manufacturer.

In a shop, the label must be clearly visible at the product, for example on the packaging or shelf. Online, it must be clearly visible just before purchase and be provided again afterwards, for example in the confirmation email. Where space is limited online, a reduced version may be used if the full label is then available.

## Background

- **ACM (Autoriteit Consument & Markt)**: The Authority for Consumers and Markets is the Dutch consumer and competition regulator. It supervises whether businesses in the Netherlands follow consumer protection rules, such as those on information, pricing and product guarantees, and enforces competition law to keep markets fair. It also publishes guidance for consumers and businesses on their rights and obligations.

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