Legal and Commercial Guarantees: the EU introduces a harmonised notice and label
With the publication of the Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/1960 , the European Union takes a strategic step towards a more transparent and sustainable consumer goods market. This new regulation introduces two standardised visual tools designed to clarify an often-complex topic for consumers: product guarantees. The goal is to transform information on legal rights and commercial benefits into clear, immediate and comparable messages, both in-store and online.
- The harmonised notice on the legal guarantee of conformity, a mandatory informational tool ensuring fair competition and consumer awareness of their basic, non-derogable rights across the EU.
- The harmonised label for the commercial guarantee of durability, a voluntary tool that provides a competitive advantage, allowing companies to stand out through higher quality and durability.
The new rules will become fully applicable from 27 September 2026.
The Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/1960 enacts a mandate contained in Directive (EU) 2024/825, aimed at strengthening consumer protection for the green transition and promoting a more sustainable economy.
The main objective of Directive 2024/825 is to tackle unfair commercial practices, particularly greenwashing (misleading environmental claims) and premature obsolescence. To implement these goals, the Directive amended the Directive 2011/83/EU on consumer rights, introducing the new Article 22a. This provision empowers the European Commission to define, via implementing acts, the design and content of both the harmonised notice (on the legal guarantee) and the harmonised label (on the commercial guarantee of durability). Regulation 2025/1960 gives concrete form to that mandate.
The harmonised notice on the legal guarantee of conformity
The harmonised notice is a general, mandatory reminder of consumer rights, to be displayed for example near the checkout area in physical stores or on a dedicated page of e-commerce websites. Its purpose is to ensure that every consumer is aware of the minimum level of legal protection before any purchase. Based on Annex I of Regulation (EU) 2025/1960, the notice provides essential information in a standardised format.
Key elements
- Format: For physical display, the minimum format is A4, in colour or greyscale; online it must appear in colour.
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Content: The notice highlights the key points of the legal guarantee:
- A minimum duration of two years throughout the European Union.
- The seller’s direct responsibility for any lack of conformity. While the seller is the main point of contact for the consumer, they may seek redress from the producer, according to commercial arrangements.
- Free remedies available to consumers, such as repair, replacement, price reduction or contract termination.
- National references: Recognising national differences, the notice includes an explicit reference indicating that some Member States may provide for longer legal guarantee periods.
- Digital innovation: A QR code embedded in the notice links the consumer to the legal guarantee section of the “Your Europe” portal for detailed country-specific information.
For retailers, the introduction of this notice represents a proactive transparency requirement.
The harmonised label for the commercial guarantee of durability
The harmonised label is the first legally standardised EU-wide visual tool that allows producers to capitalise on durability as a strategic differentiating factor. It directly responds to the growing consumer demand for sustainable products and represents a credible alternative to vague “green” claims. Unlike the mandatory notice, the label is voluntary and rewards producers investing in superior quality.
To use this label, a commercial guarantee must meet strict conditions ensuring real added value:
- It must be a commercial guarantee offered directly by the producer.
- Its duration must exceed two years, clearly distinguishing it from the EU minimum legal guarantee.
- It must be provided at no additional cost.
- It must cover the entire product, not only specific components.
Key elements
- Format: For physical display, the minimum size is 95 × 100 mm, while online a “nested display” is allowed (full label shown on hover or click).
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Content:
- Duration in years (e.g. “XX”): immediately conveys the producer’s commitment to product longevity.
- Producer brand/name: makes responsibility and value directly attributable, strengthening brand trust.
- Legal guarantee reminder: clarifies that this commercial guarantee adds to, and does not replace, basic consumer rights.
- Digital innovation: the QR code provides direct access to detailed information on the commercial guarantee of durability via the “Your Europe” portal.
Towards a more durable and informed market
The Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/1960 is not a mere bureaucratic step, but a key part of the European Union’s strategy to promote a circular economy and more conscious consumption. Through the introduction of the harmonised notice and the durability label, the EU is setting a new visual communication standard in the consumer goods market. These tools turn abstract concepts such as the legal guarantee and product durability into clear, tangible and visible factors guiding consumer choice at the point of purchase. This creates a virtuous circle: better-informed consumers reward reliable products, while producers are encouraged to compete not only on price, but also on quality and longevity.
