In short: From 19 June 2026, distance contracts concluded through an online interface must offer a withdrawal function: a button labelled ‘recedere dal contratto qui’ (‘withdraw from contract here’) or equivalent wording, a confirmation step and an acknowledgement of receipt on a durable medium. In Italy this is Article 54-bis of the Consumer Code (Codice del consumo), introduced by Legislative Decree 209/2025.
Until now, withdrawing from an online purchase only took a message: an email or a form. From 19 June 2026, anyone who concludes contracts through a website or an app must also offer a way to withdraw directly online. The rule comes from Directive (EU) 2023/2673 and in Italy has been written into the Consumer Code as Article 54-bis.
This is a practical guide, not legal advice. If in doubt, read the text of the article or ask a professional.
Where it comes from and when it applies
Directive (EU) 2023/2673 amends the Consumer Rights Directive. Member States had to transpose it by 19 December 2025 and apply its rules from 19 June 2026. Italy did so with Legislative Decree no. 209 of 31 December 2025, in force since 23 January 2026. The decree introduces Article 54-bis of the Consumer Code and applies the rule to all distance contracts concluded through an online interface.
What Article 54-bis requires
- A withdrawal function. The consumer can give notice of their decision to withdraw online, stating their name, the details that identify the contract and the electronic means on which they will receive confirmation.
- A visible button. It must be labelled ‘recedere dal contratto qui’ (‘withdraw from contract here’) or with equivalent, unambiguous wording. It must remain available throughout the withdrawal period and be prominently displayed and easily accessible.
- A confirmation button. Once the form is filled in, the customer confirms with a function labelled ‘confermare il recesso’ (‘confirm withdrawal’) or other equally unambiguous wording.
- An acknowledgement of receipt. Without undue delay after confirmation, the trader sends the content of the statement, with the date and time, on a durable medium.
- A deadline met. Withdrawal counts as exercised in time if the consumer sends the statement online before the period runs out.
What doesn't change
The right of withdrawal itself is unchanged: as a rule, fourteen days from receipt of the goods. The legal exceptions still apply, for example for personalised goods, or goods sealed for hygiene reasons once they've been opened. What changes is how the right is exercised: the customer no longer has to hunt for an address or write a message.
How to set it up in your shop
Where to put the button
On the pages customers use to manage their order: the account area, the confirmation email and the tracking page. A footer link to a dedicated page covers people who ordered without registering: they too must be able to withdraw online. Throughout the withdrawal period, it must be possible to find it without searching.
The form
Just a few fields: name, order number and the email address where the confirmation should go. If the customer is logged in to their account, you can pre-fill the fields. The next step shows a summary and the ‘confermare il recesso’ button.
The acknowledgement of receipt
An automatic email with the text of the statement, the date and the time. Keep it with the order: it's your proof that the right was exercised in time.
After the withdrawal
The button doesn't handle returns and refunds on its own. You need clear instructions for sending the product back and a rule on when refunds are made. The flow should be connected to your management software so nothing gets processed twice.
Shopify and WooCommerce
On Shopify, the flow is built with a dedicated page and a form linked to orders, or with a returns app. On WooCommerce, you need a form in the account area and a customised transactional email. Either way, it's worth testing the whole journey with a real order before going live.
Checklist
- Is there a button labelled ‘recedere dal contratto qui’ or with equivalent wording that is just as clear?
- Is it easy to find throughout the withdrawal period?
- Does the form ask only for the data that's needed?
- Is there a second step with ‘confermare il recesso’?
- Does an acknowledgement email go out with the date and time?
- Does the flow reach whoever handles returns and refunds?
Further reading: mandatory information for an online shop · integrations and syncing
Frequently asked questions
When does the withdrawal button become mandatory?
Directive (EU) 2023/2673 requires Member States to apply the rules from 19 June 2026. Italy transposed it with Legislative Decree no. 209 of 31 December 2025, which introduces Article 54-bis of the Italian Consumer Code (Codice del consumo).
What must the button say?
In Italy, ‘recedere dal contratto qui’ (‘withdraw from contract here’) or equivalent, unambiguous wording. It must be prominently displayed and easily accessible throughout the withdrawal period.
What happens after the customer confirms?
Without undue delay, the trader sends an acknowledgement of receipt on a durable medium, such as an email, with the content of the statement and the date and time it was sent.
Does the button replace the fourteen-day right of withdrawal?
No. The right of withdrawal remains the one set out in the Italian Consumer Code. The button is an additional, simple way to exercise it online.