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From 19 June 2026 every German B2C online shop must provide an EU withdrawal button. Here's who is affected, what exact label is required, and what penalties apply — with paragraph references.
What is the withdrawal button obligation?
§ 356a BGB (German Civil Code) obliges all businesses that conclude B2C contracts via online interfaces from 19 June 2026 to provide a "Vertrag widerrufen" (withdraw contract) button — permanently available, prominently placed, easily accessible.
The scope is broad. Per IT-Recht Kanzlei the obligation applies to all businesses concluding contracts with consumers online — regardless of size, revenue, or legal form.
B2C Shopify stores
any store with consumer target audience in Germany
Marketplace sellers
own merchant liability on Amazon, Etsy, eBay, etc.
Cross-border shops
market principle — anyone selling to German consumers must have the button
Services & digital products
except exceptions per § 312g (2) BGB
Button label
"Vertrag widerrufen" or an equivalent formulation — legally prescribed
Permanent availability
The button must be easy to find on every page (recommended: footer + customer account)
Confirmation page
Two-step process: Button → Form → "Widerruf bestätigen" button
Receipt confirmation
Immediate confirmation on a durable medium (email with PDF)
The German implementation act was published on 5 February 2026 in the Federal Law Gazette (BGBl. 2026 I No. 28). Legal basis is EU Directive 2023/2673.
Warning per UWG
Competitors and associations can warn. Typical €500–€1,000 attorney costs per case
Fines up to €50,000
Per multiple law firms; for large companies up to 4% of annual revenue
Extended withdrawal deadline
With defective instructions: 14 days → 12 months + 14 days (§ 356 (3) BGB)
Reputation risk
Public warnings and negative reviews in the long term
Revoka implements all statutory requirements out-of-the-box. Setup in 10 minutes.