On 19 June 2026, new rules came into force for all online traders concluding contracts with consumers via the internet. The new government regulation, implementing an EU directive, introduced additional obligations for businesses while making it easier for consumers to exercise their right to withdraw from a contract.
The key change was the obligation to introduce a dedicated "withdrawal button" within the online interface. Once the button is used, the consumer must automatically receive confirmation that the withdrawal notice has been received. As businesses are required to inform consumers about this option, the government also provided mandatory legal wording to be included in their terms and conditions and pre-contractual information. Traders subject to this obligation therefore had to update not only their websites but also all customer information documents.
The main objective of the new legislation was to prevent disputes arising from insufficient or incorrect consumer information. Accordingly, together with the mandatory withdrawal button, the regulation also introduced a specific information notice that businesses were required to include in their customer documentation. The prescribed wording specifies where consumers can find the withdrawal button and how the trader must confirm receipt of the withdrawal notice, including the date and time of receipt.
The required wording reads as follows:
"You may also withdraw from the contract online at [insert the website address or another appropriate explanation indicating where the withdrawal button or equivalent functionality can be found]. If you choose this option, we will promptly confirm receipt of your withdrawal notice in a durable medium (for example, by email), including its content and the date and time it was submitted."
As the regulation became effective on 19 June 2026, operators of online shops and other online platforms had only a limited period to bring their websites, terms and conditions, and customer information documents into compliance with the new requirements. Businesses that failed to implement the necessary changes in time risked breaching their statutory information obligations, potentially exposing themselves not only to regulatory sanctions but also to a weaker legal position in disputes with consumers.
