Germany mandates electronic withdrawal function for online contracts

Since June 19, 2026, companies concluding distance selling contracts via websites or apps in Germany are legally required to provide an electronic withdrawal function. This regulation, anchored in § 356a of the German Civil Code (BGB), implements requirements from European Directive (EU) 2023/2673.

The mandate requires a clearly labeled button, such as ‘Vertrag widerrufen’ (revoke contract), which must be easily accessible and constantly available throughout the 14-day withdrawal period. The process must follow a two-step digital workflow: the user activates the function, provides or confirms necessary contract details, and then completes the process with a second, unambiguous confirmation.

Following the withdrawal, providers must immediately send an acknowledgment of receipt to the consumer on a durable medium, typically via email, documenting the date and time. This electronic function is intended to make the cancellation of online contracts as straightforward as the initial purchase, though it does not replace existing legal requirements regarding returns or refunds.