A guarantee label in the EU consists of two official instruments from the EmpCo Directive. The harmonised notice reminds consumers of the legal guarantee of at least two years. The GARAN label shows a voluntary commercial durability guarantee of more than two years. Both have a fixed, EU-wide design that you may not change.<\/p>\n
The instruments come from the EmpCo Directive, Directive (EU) 2024\/825. A Commission implementing regulation works out the precise form. They refer to each other, so the consumer sees the difference between the legal guarantee and a voluntary longer guarantee.<\/p>\n The legal guarantee is the consumer’s right to a product that meets what can reasonably be expected of it. It follows from Directive (EU) 2019\/771 and is set out in the Civil Code. The minimum period is two years, but in the Netherlands it can be longer, depending on the product.<\/p>\n In the Netherlands the period is not pinned to two years. The conformity rule in Article 7:17 of the Civil Code ties in with the expected lifespan: you may expect longer use from a washing machine than from cheap earbuds. The liable party is the seller, not the manufacturer in Asia.<\/p>\n\n The harmonised notice points the consumer to the legal guarantee of at least two years. It has a fixed format with a QR code to more information. As a seller you show it in a prominent place: a poster in the store, at the checkout or a fixed reference on your website.<\/p>\n In print the notice may not be smaller than A4. In store it may be in colour or black and white, online it must be in colour. The official files in all EU languages can be downloaded via Your Europe, so you do not have to design anything yourself.<\/p>\n\n The GARAN label is mandatory as soon as you, as the manufacturer, offer a commercial durability guarantee that is free of charge, covers the whole product and lasts longer than two years. If your guarantee meets that, you use the label. A guarantee on only one component does not fall under it.<\/p>\n The label stands for that voluntary promise: under normal use the product keeps its functions for the stated number of years. If it does not, you as the manufacturer repair or replace free of charge. In addition you supply a commercial guarantee statement that refers to the legal guarantee.<\/p>\n\n The GARAN label has a fixed design that you may not change. It contains the title GARAN, a checkmark as a sign of durability, a calendar pictogram with the number of years, a reminder of the legal guarantee and a QR code. You only adjust the duration, your brand and the type designation.<\/p>\n The fixed elements are set at EU level:<\/p>\n You fill in three things yourself: the duration of the guarantee in years, your brand or trademark and the type designation of the product. The editable vector files are ready to download in several languages via Your Europe.<\/p>\n The European Commission makes the GARAN label, the harmonised notice and the practical guidelines available free of charge in all EU languages. Download everything on the European Commission’s publication page<\/a>. Directly: the GARAN label (zip)<\/a> and the practical guidelines (pdf)<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n A loose slogan like five-year guarantee is not a GARAN label. If you want to carry the official label, your guarantee must be free of charge, cover the whole product and last longer than two years. You may offer other guarantees, but not in a way that makes the consumer confuse them with the GARAN durability guarantee.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n The legal guarantee is a matter between the consumer and the seller. If you put your own brand on the product, you are often the seller yourself via your webshop or marketplace. As the manufacturer you also decide whether you offer a durability guarantee and therefore carry the GARAN label.<\/p>\n For a brand that has production done in Asia and sells under its own name, those two roles come together. You are the party that must show the notice at the point of sale. And you are the party that decides whether a GARAN label belongs with the product. It is best to settle both choices before sales in the EU start.<\/p>\n\n Let us know briefly which product it concerns. We will get in touch with what we can do and what it costs.<\/p>\n \n <\/p> \n \n
Instrument<\/th> What it does<\/th> Who applies it<\/th><\/tr>\n <\/thead>\n Harmonised notice<\/td> Reminds of the legal guarantee of at least two years<\/td> The seller, in store or online<\/td><\/tr>\n GARAN label<\/td> Shows a commercial durability guarantee of more than two years<\/td> The manufacturer, on the product or the packaging<\/td><\/tr>\n <\/tbody>\n <\/table>\n<\/figure>\n\n What is the legal guarantee?<\/h2>\n
What is the harmonised notice?<\/h2>\n
When do you use the GARAN label?<\/h2>\n
What does the GARAN label look like?<\/h2>\n
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Who is responsible, the manufacturer or the seller?<\/h2>\n
Not sure about your guarantee information?<\/h3>\n
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