EU GARAN label now applies: check your store and product catalog

27 September 2026 has passed. If you sell consumer goods in the European Union, now is a good time to check how you present guarantee information in your shop and on your website. Start with a straightforward catalog review: identify the relevant models, confirm the producer's guarantee terms and prepare the labels for your sales channels. There are two separate items to address. The harmonised notice on the legal guarantee informs shoppers about their general rights. The GARAN label identifies specific products with an eligible commercial guarantee of durability from the producer. Both requirements have applied since 27 September 2026, but a GARAN label is not automatically needed for every product in your range. The EU's guidance for sellers and producers explains each item. Find the eligible products Review your active product list and flag only models for which the producer offers a commercial guarantee of durability meeting all three conditions: it lasts more than two years, covers the whole product and is offered at no extra cost to the consumer. These models require the GARAN label. The phrase “10-year guarantee” on a product page is not enough. If those ten years apply only to a washing-machine motor or a refrigerator compressor, that claim does not justify a GARAN label for the whole appliance. Check the producer's terms and distinguish component-only guarantees from guarantees covering the entire good. A working list with brand, model identifier, duration in years and confirmation source makes mistakes less likely. The source column can point to the guarantee statement or product document you keep on file. Confirm the fields for every model The standard label has only three variable fields: the guarantee duration, the producer's brand or trademark, and the model identifier. Enter the details so they match the product records and the terms confirmed by the producer. An internal SKU may differ from the model identifier; compare the two before creating the artwork. Do not alter the icons, QR code or other fixed parts of the EU design. If a model's guarantee changes, update the related product information and label. For a large batch, inspect samples with long names and model codes first. Show the label beside the product In an online store, shoppers should be able to find the label for an eligible model in the context of that product. Use the colour version. If you choose the permitted nested presentation, it should expand as specified in the EU guidance. Check both mobile and desktop displays, especially when a model appears on several pages or sales channels. In a physical store, put the label on the product or with the information clearly associated with it. Printed labels must be at least 95 × 100 mm and may be in colour or black and white. Make sure a label for one model cannot be mistaken for a label on the item next to it. The European Commission provides official files and display guidance. Check the separate legal guarantee notice Alongside labels for eligible products, sellers must display the harmonised notice on the legal guarantee of conformity. Display it prominently in a physical shop; for ecommerce, provide it as a general reminder on your website. The printed notice must be at least A4 size, and its online version must be in colour. The notice serves a different purpose from the GARAN label. Creating product labels does not, by itself, address the general notice. Use the European Commission's official files for that notice and check its placement on each sales channel separately. Create labels and review the output Once your eligible models are confirmed, you can prepare the files for publishing. With GARAN GENERATOR, add products individually or import an Excel or CSV file containing brand, model identifier and guarantee period. Review the preview and download labels as SVG or PNG, in colour or black and white as appropriate for their destination. The application uses templates published by the European Commission and lets you try your first label for free. It is an independent tool. Check the duration and guarantee conditions you enter against the producer's documentation. A quick final review Before marking your catalog complete, sample products from several categories and check the label–model match, duration against the producer's document, colour display online, printed size and presence of the general legal guarantee notice. Repeat the review whenever you add new models or receive updated guarantee terms. The rules already apply. Start with products that meet the conditions and prepare any missing labels. Create your GARAN GENERATOR account and generate your first label for free. Editorial reference sources: Your Europe — the legal guarantee notice and GARAN label · European Commission — files and guidance · European Commission — application from 27 September 2026.