Belgian online traders must incorporate a mandatory online withdrawal function by 19 June 2026.
Background: the right of withdrawal in distance selling
Consumers who conclude distance contracts enjoy a right of withdrawal, allowing them to cancel without giving any reason and without incurring any penalty. This right is a cornerstone of EU consumer protection law.
Until now, the practical exercise of this right has been relatively unstructured from a digital standpoint: consumers could withdraw by completing a model withdrawal form, by sending an email, or by making any other unequivocal statement directed to the trader. A new EU directive changes that landscape by introducing a mandatory online withdrawal function ( “withdrawal button”), for traders who offer distance contracts through online interfaces.
Its objective is to increase the awareness of consumers of their right of withdrawal and to simplify the possibility of benefiting from that right.
New requirements for online B2C traders
The key requirements are:
1. A mandatory, prominently displayed withdrawal function
For distance contracts concluded by means of an online interface, the trader must ensure that the consumer can withdraw from the contract using a dedicated withdrawal function. This function must be labelled with the words “withdraw from contract here” or an unambiguous corresponding formulation in an easily legible way. It must be (1) continuously available throughout the withdrawal period, (2) prominently displayed on the online interface, and (3) easily accessible to the consumer.
Traders cannot meet this obligation by burying a withdrawal option in an FAQ page or deep within account settings. The consumer should be able to find and access the function in an easy and simple manner. For example, the consumer should not have to undertake procedures to find or access the function, such as downloading an application if the contract was not concluded via that application.
2. Content of the withdrawal statement
The withdrawal function must enable the consumer to send an online withdrawal statement informing the trader of their decision to withdraw. That statement must enable the consumer to easily provide or confirm: (1) their name; (2) details identifying the contract from which they wish to withdraw; and (3) details of the electronic means by which the confirmation of the withdrawal will be sent to them.
3. A two-step confirmation mechanism
Once the consumer has completed the online withdrawal statement, the trader must enable the consumer to submit it by means of a confirmation function. That confirmation function must be labelled in an easily legible manner, and only with the words “confirm withdrawal” or with an unambiguous corresponding formulation. This two-step process is designed to prevent unintentional withdrawals whilst keeping the process straightforward.
4. Acknowledgement of receipt
Once the consumer activates the confirmation function, the trader must send to the consumer an acknowledgement of receipt of the withdrawal on a durable medium, including its content and the date and time of its submission, without undue delay.
5. Timing of the withdrawal
The consumer is considered to have exercised their right of withdrawal within the relevant withdrawal period if they submitted the online withdrawal statement before that period expired.
6. Information obligation
Where a right of withdrawal exists, the pre-contractual information provided to consumers must include information about the existence and placement of the withdrawal function. Traders must therefore ensure that the pre-contractual information available on their webshop is updated accordingly.
Timeline and transposition: the situation in Belgium
Member States were required to adopt and publish the necessary transposition measures by 19 December 2025 at the latest, with application from 19 June 2026. As of 1 June 2026, Belgium has not yet transposed this directive into national law. This does not, however, affect the obligation for traders to comply: irrespective of the status of national transposition, the requirements of the Directive will become applicable as from 19 June 2026. Belgian traders should therefore not wait for formal transposition and are encouraged to begin reviewing their online interfaces now to ensure timely compliance.
Conclusion
The introduction of a mandatory withdrawal button marks a meaningful step towards ensuring that cancelling a distance contract is as straightforward as concluding one. Indeed, the procedure for the exercise of the right of withdrawal should not be more burdensome than the procedure for the conclusion of the distance contract.
Non-compliance, once the provisions become applicable, could expose businesses to enforcement action and reputational risk. If you require any assistance or have questions, do not hesitate to reach out.