The withdrawal button becomes mandatory.
From 19 June 2026 every B2C online shop in the EU must offer a two-step withdrawal button. The legal basis is EU Directive (EU) 2023/2673, which adds Article 11a to the Consumer Rights Directive (2011/83/EU). Here are the key points in under five minutes — and how WiderrufButton meets the legal requirement with a single script tag.
What is the withdrawal-button obligation?
Directive (EU) 2023/2673 modernises consumer protection in distance selling across the EU. It requires traders who offer goods or services to consumers through an online interface to provide a withdrawal function. That function must be permanently available, easily accessible and usable without logging in. It sits alongside the existing withdrawal instructions and the model withdrawal form. Each member state transposes it into national law — for example § 356a BGB in Germany, Article L221-21 of the Code de la consommation in France, the Codice del Consumo in Italy, article 6:230oa of the Civil Code in the Netherlands and the TRLGDCU in Spain.
When does the obligation apply?
The withdrawal-button obligation applies across the EU from 19 June 2026. There is no transition period and no de-minimis threshold. Small traders, sole proprietors and hobby shops are all covered as soon as they sell goods or services to consumers in the EU. Anyone who misses the deadline risks warnings and fines from day one.
What exactly must the button do?
The law prescribes a two-step process. Step 1 is a clearly visible button labelled “Withdraw from contract” or an unambiguously equivalent wording. It must be reachable without scrolling, ideally in the footer or the main navigation. Step 2 is the actual withdrawal form with the mandatory fields name and contact details (email or phone). An order reference and a free-text field are optional. The confirmation button carries the statutory label “Confirm withdrawal”.
After submission, the shop must promptly provide the consumer with an acknowledgement of receipt on a durable medium, in practice by email. This confirmation must contain the full content of the withdrawal declaration, the date and time of receipt and the order reference, where one was provided.
Who does it apply to?
The obligation covers every trader who offers distance contracts to consumers in the EU. That includes classic online shops as well as SaaS providers, course platforms, subscription services, streaming and digital downloads. The company's location is irrelevant; what matters is that the offer is directed at consumers in an EU member state. Non-EU shops that sell into the EU are also covered.
What penalties are at stake?
Breaching the obligation can have three consequences. First: fines — in Germany up to 50,000 euros or four percent of annual turnover under § 19 UWG, with comparable penalty regimes in other member states. Second: competition-law warnings from competitors or consumer associations, typically 500 to 2,000 euros per case. Third: the withdrawal period automatically extends from 14 days to 12 months and 14 days if the withdrawal button is missing. The last point can become existential for durable goods such as electronics or furniture.
How do you implement it compliantly?
WiderrufButton is the widget that locks the statutory confirmation label server-side, so you can't break it in the first place. Every withdrawal gets a cryptographic SHA-256 fingerprint and a tailored acknowledgement of receipt by email. Setup takes five minutes via a script tag, works with any shop system and is GDPR-compliant from German data centres in Frankfurt.
Are you affected? Take the obligation check.
In two minutes you'll know whether your shop falls under the withdrawal-button obligation and which steps you should take now.