From September 27, 2026, sellers must use two new EU labels.
- One shows your statutory warranty rights (Gewährleistungslabel). Every product carries it, including clothing, electronics, and furniture.
- The other shows any extra commercial guarantee (Garantielabel, or GARAN label).
Guarantee terms used to vary widely between shops. Marketing language around them was often confusing.
Some sellers advertised long guarantees prominently. They buried the fact that statutory rights covered the same ground.
Other sellers used vague, self-created quality seals. These had no independent verification behind them.
The new label rules cover online shops, marketplaces, and physical stores alike.
Online Shopping in the EU by Age Group ->
The Gewährleistungslabel Shows Your Statutory Warranty Rights
The Gewährleistungslabel is mandatory for every retailer selling physical goods. It must appear before you complete a purchase.
The Gewährleistungslabel creates no new rights. It only makes your existing statutory warranty visible.
In Germany, the statutory warranty runs for two years on new goods and one year on used goods.
The GARAN Label Covers Voluntary Commercial Guarantees
The GARAN label only applies to voluntary commercial guarantees that last longer than two years.
Where the GARAN label applies, it must show:
- The manufacturer’s name
- The product model
- The exact guarantee duration
The GARAN label must also state that it does not replace your statutory rights. Your statutory warranty still applies in full.
Design Rules for the Gewährleistungslabel and GARAN Label
Businesses cannot design the Gewährleistungslabel or GARAN label themselves. The EU has published a standardized template for both.
Online shops must display both Gewährleistungslabel and GARAN labels in full color. Black-and-white versions are not allowed.
Shops serving multiple languages must show the label in the customer’s language. Size and font are also fixed by the template.
What the Gewährleistungslabel and GARAN Label Mean for Shoppers
Product pages should now show whether a guarantee beats your statutory rights. The exact duration must also be visible.
A shop that only relabels its statutory warranty as a special guarantee should now stand out. You can compare offers at a glance.
WARNING: Sellers who skip the labels from September 27, 2026 risk formal warning notices from competitors and consumer groups.
As a shopper, keep two habits in mind:
- Keep your proof of purchase even if a product has no GARAN label. Your statutory warranty still applies regardless.
- Treat vague “extended protection” marketing with caution if a shop cannot explain it.
