Directive (EU) 2023/2673 — Article 1, point (3)
Online merchants selling distance contracts must provide a continuously available withdrawal function labelled "withdraw from contract here" and a confirmation function labelled "confirm withdrawal". They must also enable consumers to submit withdrawal statements and send acknowledgement of receipt. These rules apply to distance contracts concluded via an online interface.
Why this applies to you
- You are established in Germany and ship to multiple EU countries, so you conclude distance contracts with consumers across the EU.
- Your Shopify storefront is an online interface where consumers can buy furniture and leather goods, which falls under distance contracts concluded via an online interface.
- The directive requires any trader offering such contracts to provide a labelled withdrawal function, a confirmation function, and an acknowledgement of receipt — all obligations are addressed to you as the trader.
What to do
Add a continuously available "withdraw from contract here" button to your storefront that works throughout the entire withdrawal period
in force since 19 Jun 2026
“The withdrawal function shall be continuously available throughout the withdrawal period.”— eur-lex.europa.eu
Set up an online withdrawal form that lets the consumer enter their name, identify the contract, and choose how they want the confirmation sent
in force since 19 Jun 2026
“The withdrawal function shall enable the consumer to send an online withdrawal statement informing the trader of his or her decision to withdraw from the contract. That online withdrawal statement shall enable the consumer to easily provide or confirm the following information: (a)his or her name; (b)details identifying the contract from which he or she wishes to withdraw; (c)details of the electronic means by which the confirmation of the withdrawal will be sent to the consumer.”— eur-lex.europa.eu
Configure an automatic email (or other durable medium) that sends the consumer a receipt with the withdrawal content, date, and time immediately after they confirm
in force since 19 Jun 2026
“Once the consumer activates the confirmation function, the trader shall send to the consumer an acknowledgement of receipt of the withdrawal on a durable medium, including its content and the date and time of its submission, without undue delay.”— eur-lex.europa.eu
Obligations in the text
Ensure the withdrawal function is continuously available throughout the withdrawal period.
“The withdrawal function shall be continuously available throughout the withdrawal period.”— eur-lex.europa.eu
Display the withdrawal function prominently and make it easily accessible to the consumer.
“It shall be prominently displayed on the online interface and easily accessible to the consumer.”— eur-lex.europa.eu
Enable the consumer to send an online withdrawal statement with required information.
“The withdrawal function shall enable the consumer to send an online withdrawal statement informing the trader of his or her decision to withdraw from the contract. That online withdrawal statement shall enable the consumer to easily provide or confirm the following information: (a)his or her name; (b)details identifying the contract from which he or she wishes to withdraw; (c)details of the electronic means by which the confirmation of the withdrawal will be sent to the consumer.”— eur-lex.europa.eu
Send acknowledgement of receipt of the withdrawal on a durable medium after the consumer activates the confirmation function.
“Once the consumer activates the confirmation function, the trader shall send to the consumer an acknowledgement of receipt of the withdrawal on a durable medium, including its content and the date and time of its submission, without undue delay.”— eur-lex.europa.eu
Source
- Document
- https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dir/2023/2673/oj/eng?eliuri=eli%3Adir%3A2023%3A2673%3Aoj
- Jurisdiction
- EU
- Dates
- 19 Jun 2026
- Fetched
- 19 Oct 2026 14:10 UTC
- Content hash
306db8eda7f3- Extracted by
- recorded seed run
- Classified by
- nvidia/Nemotron-3-Ultra-550b-a55b · $0.0057