This post is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For guidance specific to your business, consult a qualified legal professional.
EU Directive 2023/2673 requires all B2C ecommerce sites selling to EU consumers to add a clearly visible « Withdraw Contract » link to their site by June 19, 2026. If you’re running WooCommerce, you likely have most of what you need. Here’s a summary of some of the requirements and steps you can take.
What’s changing
EU consumers have long had a 14-day “right of withdrawal” under Directive 2011/83. What’s changing is how customers can exercise it. From June 19, 2026, your site may need a prominently displayed withdrawal function that is continuously available during the 14-day period.
Any business that lets EU customers sign up for something online must also let them cancel online, through the same website or app, with a clearly labeled button or link. This is the EU’s way of ensuring that companies can’t make it simple to buy something online but difficult to get out of it.
That means you may want to add a prominent and easily accessible “withdraw from contract here” function and a confirmation step, so that your customers can cancel within 14 days and receive a confirmation email. For more details about what’s required, chec out Directive 2023/2673.
Creating a “withdraw from contract” flow
↑ Back to topFollow the steps below if you want to have a “Withdraw from contract” flow on your site that allows the customer to create and confirm a withdrawal request and sends a confirmation email in response to the request, plus integrates a workflow to process the refund.
1. Add a « Withdraw from contract » link to your site
Place it somewhere prominent and easily accessible. Your site footer or main navigation are both practical options. A text link may be sufficient rather than a styled button. The directive requires specific labeling such as “Withdraw from contract here” or something similar.
2. Create a withdrawal request form
The link should point to a page where your customer can provide or confirm the following:
- Name
- Order or contract reference
- Email address
There are a variety of contact form plugins that can work — there’s no requirement for a custom-built solution.
3. Set up a confirmation email
When a customer submits a withdrawal request, you need to send a confirmation email to them. You can set this up through your form plugin’s email notifications or your customer service platform.
4. Handle requests through your existing workflow
You can process withdrawal requests the same way you handle other cancellations and refunds. WooCommerce’s built-in order management, refund workflows, and order notes already support this. Using an external customer service tool works, too.
Exact requirements may vary by EU member state. We recommend consulting with a legal professional familiar with the regulations in the countries where you do business.
About
