From 27 September 2026, EU sellers of consumer goods must follow new rules on how they show guarantee information to buyers.
The update introduces two tools:
- the Harmonised Legal Guarantee Notice, which informs shoppers about their legal guarantee rights;
- the GARAN label, which highlights products covered by a qualifying commercial guarantee of durability.
The rules apply to professional B2C sellers, including businesses selling through online marketplaces.
The two requirements are easy to confuse, but they aren’t the same. The legal guarantee notice applies broadly to consumer goods, while GARAN only applies in specific cases.
For marketplace sellers, the practical question is whether a product needs a GARAN label and what information must appear with it. This guide covers exactly that.
Legal Guarantee Notice vs. GARAN Label
The Harmonised Legal Guarantee Notice and the GARAN label are related, but they serve different purposes.
| Harmonised Legal Guarantee Notice | GARAN Label | |
| What it explains | The consumer’s statutory rights against the seller | A commercial guarantee of durability offered by the producer |
| Where it applies | Broadly to sales of consumer goods | Only to products covered by a qualifying guarantee |
| How it is displayed | As a prominent general notice, such as a reminder on the seller’s website | As a label clearly linked to the product covered |
The two operate independently. Displaying GARAN doesn’t replace the legal guarantee notice.
Does Your Product Need a GARAN Label?
A GARAN label isn’t required for every product. It applies only when the producer offers a qualifying commercial guarantee of durability.
The guarantee must:
- be offered at no extra cost to the consumer;
- cover the entire product;
- last for more than two years;
- be offered by the producer, not only by the seller.
The seller must display the label when these conditions are met, and the producer has made the relevant guarantee information available.
For example, a five-year guarantee on the whole appliance can qualify. But a ten-year guarantee on the motor alone doesn’t.
If you’re unsure whether a guarantee qualifies, ask the producer to confirm its scope and terms before adding GARAN to the listing.
How to Get the GARAN Label and Guarantee Details
Start with the producer. GARAN communicates the producer’s guarantee, so the information must come from them.
Ask for:
- the GARAN label for the product, if already prepared;
- confirmation of the guarantee duration and the models covered;
- the full commercial guarantee statement.
The producer is responsible for making the relevant guarantee information available to sellers. The official EU guidance also links to practical instructions and editable label files.
Use the official EU template. Don’t create your own label or change its structure. The editable fields identify the guarantee duration, brand or trademark, and model. Check that these details match the product you sell.
GARAN is only a label. It doesn’t replace the detailed commercial guarantee statement, which must reach the consumer in a durable form, such as paper or email, no later than delivery.
How to Display GARAN on Marketplace Listings
What does the label look like?
The full GARAN label includes the brand or trademark, model identifier, guarantee duration in years, and a QR code. It also reminds buyers of their legal guarantee rights.
For online sales, the label must appear in color. A compact, expandable version is also allowed. With this ‘nested’ format, the full label must appear on the first click, hover, or tap. You can find all the official templates by following this link.
Where should buyers see it?
The label must be prominent and clearly connected to the product covered by the guarantee. For online sales, the EU rules allow you to place it directly next to the product image, for example. This doesn’t mean every marketplace will use the same position or layout.
What do you handle, and what does the marketplace handle?
As the seller, you must ensure that the required GARAN label is clearly displayed for the relevant product. The marketplace controls the page layout and the tools available for submitting product information.
The upload process and exact placement therefore need to be checked with each platform. Don’t assume the marketplace will add the label automatically.
Before updating your listings:
- Check the marketplace’s instructions: find out how to submit the label or guarantee information. If the process is unclear, contact seller support.
- Assign the label to the right product: make sure each GARAN label clearly refers to the model covered.
- Check variants carefully: different models or variants may have different guarantee terms.
- Review the live listing: confirm that buyers can see the label and, if a compact version is used, open it on desktop and mobile.
Support Your Next Stage of Growth with M2E
More marketplaces mean more opportunities – and more product information to maintain. Requirements like GARAN add to the work your team needs to coordinate across channels.
M2E helps you manage a growing marketplace business by connecting listings, inventory, pricing, and orders. Whether you’re expanding your catalog or entering another marketplace, you can build on your existing workflows and reduce manual work.
Review the guarantee requirements for your products, follow each marketplace’s guidance, and use M2E to simplify your wider multichannel operations.
