Consumer protection when purchasing a defective item is a well-established right in the European Union, but for years the way this is communicated has been unclear to most buyers . Many are unaware of exactly what coverage they have and who is responsible if something goes wrong, a problem that Brussels intends to address with a common information system for all member states.
Starting September 27, retail establishments will have to adapt their physical spaces and digital platforms to prominently display a label informing customers about the legal guarantee of their products. This measure is accompanied by a voluntary label, called EU GARAN , designed to recognize manufacturers who offer durability commitments exceeding the minimums established by law.
What changes in stores from September 27th
Retailers will be required to display a standardized notice across all European Union countries reminding customers of the minimum two-year legal warranty on purchased goods. In Spain, this coverage is even longer: since January 1, 2022, new goods have a three-year legal warranty, a situation that remains unchanged by the new regulations.
The label must be visible both in physical stores and on online sales platforms, so that consumers can be aware of their rights before completing a purchase . The intention is that this information not be relegated to the general terms and conditions that almost no one reads, but rather appear prominently during the buying process.
Legal protection is activated when an item is defective, meaning it doesn't function correctly, has a defect, or doesn't match the specifications advertised in the product description . In these situations, the buyer can file a claim with the seller and request repair or replacement of the product at no cost . If neither of these options is possible or doesn't resolve the issue, other options are available, such as a price reduction or contract termination with a corresponding refund.
It's important to clarify that this European notice does not mean Spain will be increasing its warranty from two to three years. That change already occurred in 2022, and what is being introduced now is simply a standardized way of informing consumers about a right that already exists . The confusion between these two aspects has been one of the reasons that led the European Commission to promote this measure.
The EU GARAN label, a voluntary label for manufacturers
Alongside the mandatory legal warranty notice, consumers will begin to see another identifier: the EU GARAN label. Unlike the former, its use will not be mandated by law , but will instead be at the discretion of manufacturers who choose to offer a free commercial warranty with a lifespan exceeding the minimum two years stipulated by European legislation.
To display this label, the warranty must cover the entire product, be free of charge, and commit the manufacturer to maintain the item's functions and performance under normal use for a specified period. If the product ceases to meet these conditions within the covered period, the manufacturer must repair or replace it at no cost to the buyer.
This commercial guarantee is in addition to the legal guarantee and cannot, under any circumstances, reduce the consumer's existing rights. A manufacturer may advertise, for example, a five-year durability guarantee for an appliance, and that promise will be binding under the advertised terms, but the buyer will still retain the protection they are entitled to against the seller under Spanish law.
The label may be displayed on the product itself, on its packaging, next to the item on a physical store shelf, or near its image in an online purchase. However, it will not appear on all available products, as this depends on the manufacturer meeting the requirements and providing the corresponding information. What will be mandatory for all retailers from September 27th is the general notice regarding the legal guarantee.
Why is this regulation coming now?
The measure responds to a reality that European bodies have been observing for some time: information about warranties is often confusing for the buyer. The additional commercial warranties offered by some brands can overlap with the legal coverage to which any consumer is entitled, creating doubts about what protection one actually has and to whom one can file a complaint.
With this common system, the European Union aims to ensure that everyone can easily identify their rights at a glance, regardless of their location or whether the purchase is made in person or online. Harmonizing these labels also seeks to strengthen trust in cross-border trade and empower consumers to make more informed decisions about product lifecycles.
The new framework, which comes into effect on September 27, does not alter the warranty periods currently in force in Spain, but it does transform how retailers communicate these rights. While the notice regarding the legal warranty will be mandatory and visible in all physical stores and online platforms, the EU GARAN label will be reserved for manufacturers who voluntarily offer durability guarantees exceeding two years and covering the entire product. Both instruments share a common goal: to ensure that consumers know exactly what protection they have when they buy, without having to decipher fine print or deal with confusing terms and conditions.