The EU withdrawal button, explained

What the law says

Directive (EU) 2023/2673 added Article 11a to the Consumer Rights Directive. For distance contracts concluded through an online interface, the trader must make sure the consumer can also withdraw “by using a withdrawal function”. The function must be labelled “withdraw from contract here” or an unambiguous equivalent, be continuously available throughout the withdrawal period, and be prominently displayed and easy to access.

EU countries had to transpose the rule by 19 December 2025 and apply it from 19 June 2026. A withdrawal sent through the function before the withdrawal period ends counts as made in time.

Who needs it

• Any business selling to consumers through a website or app, whatever its size.
• For goods, services and digital content, and, with this change, for financial services sold at a distance.
• Only where the customer has a right of withdrawal. Contracts the law excludes from withdrawal, such as custom-made goods, don’t need it.
• B2B sales are not covered.

The four parts of a compliant flow

1. 1
   A clearly labelled button

   “Withdraw from contract here”, or an unambiguous equivalent in your language, prominently placed and easy to reach for the whole withdrawal period.

2. 2
   A short withdrawal statement

   The customer gives or confirms their name, which contract (or order) they are withdrawing from, and where the confirmation should go, usually their email.

3. 3
   A confirmation button

   Labelled only “confirm withdrawal” (in German „Widerruf bestätigen“) or an unambiguous equivalent. No extra wording on this button.

4. 4
   An automatic receipt

   Sent without undue delay on a durable medium, such as email, with the content of the statement and the date and time it was submitted.

The official wording, by language

Use the wording below or an unambiguous equivalent in your shop’s language. The German law, for example, accepts other clear wording alongside „Vertrag widerrufen“.

Where to put it

• In the footer of every page, so it’s always one click away during the withdrawal period.
• In the order confirmation email and the customer account, as extra entry points.
• Without a login wall where people can order as guests: they need a way in too.

Germany: § 356a BGB

Germany implemented the rule in § 356a of the Civil Code (BGBl. 2026 I Nr. 28), with the labels „Vertrag widerrufen“ and „Widerruf bestätigen“. Unlike the older cancellation button, there is no exemption for financial services.

The stakes are practical. If customers aren’t properly informed about the function, the withdrawal period can run for up to 12 months and 14 days instead of 14 days, and German consumer and competition associations send warning letters (Abmahnungen). The first ones over a missing withdrawal button were reported in August 2026.

France and other countries

France implemented the rule by an ordinance of 5 January 2026, and French lawyers report administrative fines of up to €15,000 for an individual and €75,000 for a company. Each EU country sets its own penalties, so check the rules where your customers live.

How untick checks your shop

untick first decides whether a site is a shop that sells to EU consumers: a shop platform or cart and product signals, plus an EU domain, euro prices or an EU language. It then looks for a withdrawal link or button in 11 languages on the public pages it scans, and takes a screenshot of your footer if it can’t find one. A link to the withdrawal policy alone doesn’t count, and the finding lists exactly which pages were checked, because we can’t see pages behind a login.

Check your shop free