From 27 September 2026, the EU's harmonised notice on legal guarantees and its GARAN label for commercial guarantees of durability apply. The two tools can appear in the same shopping journey, but they describe different obligations. A seller's notice about statutory rights does not become a producer's durability promise. Nor does a broad “five-year warranty” headline establish that a product qualifies for GARAN.
The seller's notice concerns legal rights
The European Commission explains that the harmonised notice informs consumers of their legal guarantee rights. Consumers in the EU benefit from at least two years of legal guarantee protection, although some Member States provide longer periods. Sellers must display the official notice prominently. A physical shop may place it where customers can readily see it, including near checkout. An online seller may display it as a general reminder on its website. The notice has a fixed design and QR code; the online version must be in colour. It is not a product certification mark.
GARAN concerns a producer's additional commitment
The EU business guidance describes a narrower condition. A producer may voluntarily offer a commercial guarantee of durability. If that commitment comes at no extra cost, covers the entire good and lasts for more than two years, the GARAN label must be used. A promise limited to one component cannot be represented by the GARAN label for the whole good. Other commercial guarantees may exist, but they must not be presented in a way that confuses consumers with this specific durability guarantee.
Duration alone is therefore an incomplete test. Before approving a product page, identify the party making the promise, the good and model covered, whether any additional payment is required, and whether the commitment addresses the whole good or only a part. A five-year repair service with narrow component coverage cannot simply be converted into a whole-product durability guarantee by changing the artwork.
Make the statement and the listing match
The producer's commercial guarantee statement must explain the conditions and procedure for claiming the guarantee, identify the producer by name and address, specify the covered goods, and make clear that consumers' legal rights against the seller remain unaffected. The consumer must receive that statement in a durable form they can keep or refer to, such as paper or email, no later than delivery. The producer must also supply the relevant information to the seller.
The GARAN design is fixed, while the guarantee period in years, the brand or trademark and the model identifier are the fields to adapt to the actual offer. Online display must be in colour. This makes model mapping a substantive task: a retailer should not apply the label to every product of a brand because one model has a qualifying guarantee. Check the listing, packaging, guarantee statement and after-sales route together. If their periods or coverage differ, resolve the underlying promise before changing the label.
These are document-review steps derived from EU guidance, not a finding that any particular SKU complies. National rules may provide a longer legal guarantee than the EU minimum. Sources: European Commission and Your Europe business guidance. Reviewed 28 September 2026.
