EU EmpCo for Shopify: compliance by 27 September 2026
From 27 September 2026, EU consumer law changes for every store selling to the EU: vague environmental claims are restricted and a harmonised legal-guarantee notice must appear on the product page before purchase. Verda covers both: it scans your product copy for banned green claims and adds the official EU legal-guarantee notice in all 24 languages.
What is binding on 27 September 2026
- No banned green claims. Generic environmental wording (“eco-friendly”, “sustainable”, offset-based “climate neutral”) is banned unless specific and substantiated.
- Legal-guarantee notice. The harmonised legal-guarantee-of-conformity notice must be shown on the product page, before purchase, in the shopper’s language.
- Producer durability label (optional). The voluntary GARAN label, only where a qualifying producer guarantee exists; never required of the seller.
How Verda helps
Free: scan your product copy for restricted green claims with a fix for each, add the official EU legal-guarantee notice to your product page, and see a live readiness score for both duties. Pro adds automatic monitoring, a tamper-evident audit trail and a monthly readiness certificate. Read-only access, no code.
Frequently asked questions
- Does EU EmpCo apply to my Shopify store?
- If you sell goods to consumers in the EU, yes. The Empowering Consumers Directive (EU) 2024/825 binds every trader selling to EU consumers, including sellers based outside the EU, from 27 September 2026. There is no small-business exemption, and penalties can reach 4% of annual turnover.
- What is binding on 27 September 2026?
- Two duties. First, you may no longer use banned generic environmental claims (e.g. “eco-friendly”, “sustainable”, offset-based “climate neutral”) unless they are specific and substantiated. Second, you must show shoppers the harmonised legal-guarantee-of-conformity notice on the product page, before they buy.
- What about the GARAN durability label?
- The harmonised GARAN durability label is the producer’s and is voluntary. It only applies where a producer offers a commercial guarantee of durability over two years, at no extra cost, covering the whole product. It is not required of you as the seller, so Verda treats it as optional and never scores it.
- Is Verda legal advice?
- No. Verda is a configuration and documentation tool that helps you see what applies and produce a readiness record. It does not by itself establish compliance.
This page is general information, not legal advice. Verda is a configuration and documentation tool that helps you see what applies and produce a readiness record; it does not by itself establish legal compliance.