EU Directive 2023/2673 - E-commerce: mandatory withdrawal button from June 2026.

Simple withdrawal with a click

From June 19, 2026, a new obligation will become a reality for online retailers in the EU: the so-called withdrawal button. The reason for this is EU Directive (EU) 2023/2673 of 22.11.2023, which aims to make the withdrawal from online contracts just as easy as concluding them. Consumers should no longer have to search for cumbersome forms or write emails – one click is enough.

Why the withdrawal button is coming

The EU sees a need for action because many consumers find withdrawal too complicated. The new legal situation obliges retailers to provide a digital function for online contracts that makes withdrawal simple, clearly recognizable and possible at any time during the withdrawal period.
According to the EU Commission, the implementation serves to strengthen consumer confidence in online trading and is intended to Make consumers more aware of their law of withdrawal and simplify the possibility of exercising it.

Key point of the new regulation

According to the new regulation in Article 11a of the Consumer Rights Directive, online retailers are obliged to provide an easily accessible and clearly recognizable withdrawal function when contracts are concluded via an online user interface. This function must be marked with the words “withdraw from contract” or equivalent wording and remain available at all times during the entire withdrawal period.

The consumer must be able to use this function to simply declare withdrawal online by providing certain information such as their name, contract identifier and a means of communication for confirmation. They are then asked to confirm their decision via a confirmation function labeled “Confirm withdrawal”.

As soon as the consumer executes this confirmation, the trader is obliged to immediately send him a confirmation of receipt on a durable medium – for example by e-mail. This must contain the content of the withdrawal as well as the date and time of receipt. Withdrawal is deemed to have been exercised in good time as soon as the consumer sends the online withdrawal declaration before the withdrawal period expires.

What online retailers should do now

Even if there is still some time until 19.06.2026, retailers should plan early:

Technical preparation: Involve web developers to programmatically set up a revocation function.

Check placement: The button must be easy to find and logically integrated into the customer account or order area.

Adapt texts: Cancellation notices must refer to the new function in future.

Ensure documentation: Implement automatic shipping confirmation for withdrawals received.

Check data protection: The function may only collect necessary data and must be GDPR-compliant.

Conclusion

Online retailers should deal with the new withdrawal button at an early stage in order to be able to implement it in time for 19.06.2026.

In addition to the technical implementation, the legal implementation must also be carried out, e.g. by adapting the withdrawal policy.

IMPORTANT: if your e-commerce is developed with Thirty Bees or Prestashop, the PS Mandatory Withdrawal Button Module (ThirtyBees Version or Prestashop Version) is the immediate and perfect solution for you.