Author
Tessa Stoppelenburg
Date
April 2026
Category
Regulations
A new EU requirement is arriving in every webshop this year. The withdrawal button, also referred to as the cancellation button, becomes mandatory on 19 June 2026. If you sell to consumers in the EU, this applies to you. Here is what the regulation means, what your webshop needs to do, and what happens if you are not ready in time.
What is the withdrawal button?
The withdrawal button is a mandatory digital function that allows consumers to cancel an online order as easily as placing one. That is not a metaphor, it is the literal standard the EU has set.
Clicking a PDF link, emailing a customer service address, or calling a phone number no longer counts as a valid cancellation mechanism. The withdrawal function must be a direct digital action: accessible without logging in, clearly labelled, and easily completed.
The legal basis
The legal basis is Directive (EU) 2023/2673, an amendment to the established European Consumer Rights Directive (2011/83/EU). In the Netherlands, the obligation is being incorporated into the Civil Code as Article 6:230oa BW. In Germany, a similar cancellation button already existed for subscriptions. It now applies more broadly and must meet the stricter EU standard.
The deadline is the same across all EU member states: 19 June 2026.
Besides the withdrawal button, more regulations will be rolled out by the EU in the upcoming years. Such as the ESPR, Right to Repair, PPWR, and more. Find out everything you need to know about EU regulations on this page.
Who does it apply to?
The regulation applies to all webshops and online platforms selling products, services, or digital content to consumers in the EU. More specifically, it applies to all distance contracts for which a right of withdrawal already exists. If your webshop currently has a return policy and a 14-day withdrawal period, the withdrawal button applies to you.
Our research with Sendcloud shows that 95% of the top 100 Benelux webshops clearly state their return policy, and 5% still don’t meet the regulations. But having a policy is no longer enough. The process for canceling an order goods must now meet specific technical requirements.
What exactly does your webshop need to do?
The regulation sets specific technical requirements. Your withdrawal function must meet at least the following:
- Clearly labelled. The button must use unambiguous text. Vague descriptions are not permitted.
- Accessible without logging in. Consumers cannot be required to create an account or log in to use the withdrawal function.
- Two-step process. The consumer only has to fill in the minimal required details and explicitly has to confirm their decision.
- Immediate automated confirmation. Once the consumer confirms, the webshop must immediately send a confirmation email.
- Available throughout the withdrawal period. The function must be continuously accessible for the full 14-day withdrawal period.
- Reachable from order confirmation emails. Consumers must be able to find and use the withdrawal function directly from their order confirmation.
Want to make sure your webshop is compliant before the deadline? Download our checklist for a full requirement breakdown.
What happens if you are not compliant?
Non-compliance carries real consequences. Webshops that do not have the withdrawal button in place by 19 June 2026 face:
- An automatic extension of the 14-day withdrawal period by up to 12 months. That means consumers retain the right to cancel and return products for up to a year after purchase.
- Fines from national supervisory authorities. In the Netherlands, the ACM (Autoriteit Consument & Markt) is responsible for enforcement. Fines can be substantial.
- Damage to consumer trust. Cancellation friction is increasingly visible and increasingly cited as a reason to avoid a webshop entirely.
How to handle EU returns and withdrawal rules automatically.
Returnless provides the withdrawal button function required by law, and handles the return process for orders that have already been shipped.
Not sure where your webshop stands?
Download the free compliance checklist and check every requirement in minutes. Or read our other articles about EU regulations.
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