Online, the GARAN label has its own rules. The colour version is mandatory, the label may be nested, and the QR code needs a clickable link to the same destination. This guide summarises what the Commission’s practical guidelines of April 2026 expect from an online shop.
Key point: Online, use the colour label, legible at default size, on the product page, again directly before the order is placed, and on a durable medium, normally the confirmation email, unless already supplied durably before contracting. A nested strip is allowed if it expands to the full label on the first click, roll-over or touch.
Colour is mandatory online
For contracts concluded through an online interface the label must be displayed in colour. Black and white is permitted for other types of contract, including sales in physical shops. Use RGB files for screens: SVG, PNG, JPG or WebP. Do not change the colours, and do not apply filters, effects or transparency.
The label must be legible at its default size. Do not shrink it below the point where the brand, the model identifier or the translation strip become unreadable. There is no fixed pixel size; the generator exports raster images at 1200 px wide and scalable SVG. Check legibility at the actual displayed size.
Where the label must appear
The Commission’s guidelines expect the label at three points of the online purchase:
- on the product page, so that the consumer sees it before deciding;
- again directly before the consumer places the order, for example in the basket or checkout summary;
- on a durable medium, usually the confirmation email, together with the other contract information. Article 8(7) of Directive 2011/83/EU makes an exception for information already supplied on a durable medium before contracting.
The label must be shown before the consumer is bound by the contract. Placing it only in the terms and conditions or on a separate guarantee page is not enough.
Nested display
Online, the label may use a nested display. This is a compact strip that has the number of years as its only editable field. It must expand to the complete label on the first click, mouse roll-over or touch. The complete label must be reached on that first interaction, without an intermediate step. Test the actual behaviour rather than assuming that every link or overlay meets this requirement.
Requirements for the strip:
- accompany it with accessible text, so that screen readers announce what it is;
- make sure the expanded label is the full, unaltered label;
- use it online only. The nested strip is not allowed in print; see GARAN label in print and in store.
The generator offers the nested strip as a variant. Use it only if you can implement the expand-on-first-interaction behaviour in your shop.
Clickable link next to the QR code
The QR code on the label leads to the Your Europe page on the commercial guarantee of durability. Consumers cannot scan a QR code on the screen they are looking at. The guidelines therefore ask for a clickable link to the same destination whenever the label is shown online.
Link the label image itself, or place a text link right next to it.
Advertising and multi-product layouts
The label may be used in banners, carousels, emails, third-party placements and video, provided it refers to a product that is actually covered. In a layout with several products, do not present the label in a way that suggests all of them are covered unless that is the case.
Marketplaces
If you sell through a marketplace, the same rules apply to your listing. A colour image in the product gallery can help, but is not sufficient by itself: check visibility before the order and durable confirmation with the platform. If the label is embedded in a product image, allow enlargement so all its details remain readable. Ask the platform whether it supports a nested display; if not, use the full label. See which file format for which channel.
Checklist for an e-shop
- colour label, RGB files, unchanged colours and proportions;
- visible before contracting and directly before the paid order; required information supplied durably, normally by confirmation email;
- nested strip expands on first click, roll-over or touch, with accessible text;
- clickable link to the same page as the QR code;
- one label per model, with the producer’s brand, the model identifier and the duration.
FAQ
Can I show the label only in the product gallery?
A gallery alone does not meet all information duties. Check visibility directly before the paid order and durable confirmation, subject to the exception for information already supplied durably before contracting.
Can I use the nested strip in my newsletter?
The nested strip must expand on first interaction, which most email clients cannot do. Use the full colour label in emails.
Do I have to link the label?
Yes. The guidelines expect a clickable link to the same destination as the QR code whenever the label is displayed online.