What is the legal guarantee of conformity?

It is the EU-wide right of a consumer to a free remedy, such as repair or replacement, if goods do not conform to the contract. It lasts at least two years from delivery and exists automatically, separate from any commercial warranty a seller or producer chooses to offer.

Where does the notice have to appear?

On the product page, before the consumer is bound by the purchase. It is a pre-contractual information duty, so a link buried in a returns policy is not enough. The reminder needs to be visible where the shopper decides to buy.

Can I write my own version of the notice?

No. The wording and design are harmonised across the EU by Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/1960, so consumers see the same standard reminder everywhere. You show the harmonised notice, not a paraphrase of it.

Does the notice need to be in the shopper's language?

Yes. Pre-contractual information must be given in the language of the consumer you sell to, which is why a single English block is not sufficient for a store selling across the EU.

Product page duty

The legal guarantee of conformity notice for product pages

From 27 September 2026, the Empowering Consumers Directive adds a second duty alongside the green-claims rules: your product page must remind EU shoppers, before they buy, that goods come with a legal guarantee of conformity of at least two years. This page explains what that notice is, the law behind it, where it has to go, and how to add it.

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What the notice is

Every consumer buying goods in the EU already has a legal guarantee of conformity. If a product does not match what was described, is not fit for its purpose, or fails earlier than it reasonably should, the consumer is entitled to a remedy at no cost, typically repair or replacement and, failing that, a price reduction or refund. This right lasts a minimum of two years from delivery and applies whether or not the seller offers any extra commercial warranty.

The problem the directive addresses is that most shoppers do not know this right exists, and are sometimes upsold paid warranties that duplicate it. The remedy is a mandatory reminder: a harmonised notice that tells the consumer about the guarantee at the moment they are deciding to buy.

The legal basis

The notice sits in the Consumer Rights Directive (2011/83/EU), as amended by the Empowering Consumers Directive (EU) 2024/825. The relevant pre-contractual information duties are in Article 5(1)(e) for off-premises and other contracts and Article 6(1)(l) for distance contracts, which is what an online store forms. The design and precise presentation of the harmonised notice are set out in Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/1960, so the reminder looks the same across the single market rather than being reworded store by store.

Because the format is harmonised, this is not a duty you satisfy by writing your own sentence about warranties. The point is a consistent, recognisable notice, so you display the official version in the shopper's language.

Where it must appear

This is a pre-contractual duty, so timing and placement matter as much as content:

On the product page. The consumer should see the reminder while considering the specific product, not only in a generic legal page.
Before the purchase is binding. It must be available before the shopper commits, which in practice means near the product information and the buy button, not only inside the checkout confirmation.
In the consumer's language. A store selling across the EU needs the notice in each relevant language, since pre-contractual information has to be understandable to the buyer.

How to add it to your store

You can build and translate the block yourself by editing your theme, placing it in the product template, and maintaining a version for each of the EU languages you sell in. That is workable but fiddly to get right and keep updated.

Verda does it for you. It adds the official EU legal-guarantee notice to your product page in all 24 EU languages, and then verifies that the block is actually live on the page rather than assuming it. Access is read-only for the verification, and the app never edits your product copy. It also covers the first duty by scanning for banned generic green claims, so a single install handles both obligations that fall due on 27 September 2026. For the wider picture of what the directive requires, see our Empowering Consumers Directive guide.

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The notice versus a commercial warranty

It helps to keep two things separate. The legal guarantee of conformity is a statutory right the consumer has for free, for at least two years, from you as the seller. A commercial warranty, or commercial guarantee of durability, is an optional extra that a seller or producer may offer on top. The mandatory notice is about the first, statutory right. The voluntary durability (GARAN) label is about the second, and it is the producer's responsibility, not yours, which is why Verda treats that label as optional context and never counts it against your readiness score.

Frequently asked questions

What is the legal guarantee of conformity?: It is the EU-wide right of a consumer to a free remedy, such as repair or replacement, if goods do not conform to the contract. It lasts at least two years from delivery and exists automatically, separate from any commercial warranty a seller or producer chooses to offer.
Where does the notice have to appear?: On the product page, before the consumer is bound by the purchase. It is a pre-contractual information duty, so a link buried in a returns policy is not enough. The reminder needs to be visible where the shopper decides to buy.
Can I write my own version of the notice?: No. The wording and design are harmonised across the EU by Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/1960, so consumers see the same standard reminder everywhere. You show the harmonised notice, not a paraphrase of it.
Does the notice need to be in the shopper's language?: Yes. Pre-contractual information must be given in the language of the consumer you sell to, which is why a single English block is not sufficient for a store selling across the EU.

Keep readingEU green claims and the Empowering Consumers Directive (2024/825)Banned generic green claims, and how to fix them Verda: EU green claims and guarantee for Shopify

This page is general information, not legal advice. Verda is a configuration and documentation tool that helps you add the notice and record your readiness; it does not by itself establish legal compliance. Confirm your obligations with a qualified adviser.