WooCommerce & Compliance
The EU rules your WooCommerce shop has to follow
Pricing, returns, withdrawal, VAT, accessibility and product safety, explained in plain language. Each topic links to a full guide with the WooCommerce setup steps.
Who these rules apply to
WooCommerce EU compliance is not about where your business is registered. If you sell to consumers in the EU, these rules apply to you, wherever you are based. They follow the customer, not the company. A shop in the US or Australia that targets EU shoppers, with euro prices, EU shipping or EU-language pages, is covered too.
Two caveats. Many of the rules are EU directives that each country turns into its own law, so details differ between the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany and France. And these guides explain the rules for shop owners; they are not legal advice.
The guides, by topic
Pricing and sales
EU discount pricing: the 30-day lowest-price rule
Any crossed-out price, “-20%” badge or “was / now” line has to show the lowest price you charged in the previous 30 days. What the rule requires, the exemptions, and the plugins that track price history.
Cancellations and returns
Returns and refunds under EU law
EU law gives shoppers 14 days to withdraw from an online order. How to set up refund workflows, a compliant returns policy page and refunds through Mollie and Stripe.
Accessibility
The European Accessibility Act and your store
Does the Act apply to your shop? Who is exempt, what WCAG 2.1 AA asks for, and how to get an EU shop compliant. For a worked example, see the accessibility audit of our own theme.
Privacy and cookies
Warder cookie consent
Cookie consent is part of selling to EU shoppers. Warder is our free, self-hosted GDPR cookie banner for WordPress and WooCommerce, listed on WordPress.org.
Cancellations and returns
The EU withdrawal button
Since June 19, 2026, online stores selling to EU consumers need a withdrawal function: a labeled link, a confirmation step and an acknowledgement. What WooCommerce 11.1 covers and what you still add yourself.
Tax
EU VAT setup for WooCommerce
The €10,000 OSS threshold, B2B reverse charge, VAT rates by country and which tax plugin to use.
Product safety (Deutsch)
GPSR in WooCommerce
Die Pflichtangaben der GPSR auf der Produktseite: Herstellerdaten, verantwortliche Person und Warnhinweise. Auf Deutsch.
When WooCommerce changes
WooCommerce 11.0 and 11.1 for EU stores
WooCommerce 11.0 changed how stock is restored when payments fail, which matters if you sell on iDEAL, SEPA or Klarna. 11.1 adds a native EU withdrawal page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do EU consumer rules apply to a shop based outside the EU?
Yes, if you sell to consumers in the EU. The rules follow the customer, not where the business is registered. A shop in the US or Australia that targets EU shoppers with euro prices, EU shipping or EU-language pages is covered.
Is WooCommerce EU-compliant out of the box?
No. WooCommerce 11.1 adds a native EU withdrawal page, but the 30-day lowest-price display, VAT by country, accessibility fixes and GPSR product details still need configuration, a plugin or theme work.
Which EU shop rules changed in 2026?
Two. Since June 19, 2026, online shops selling to EU consumers need a withdrawal function. Since September 27, 2026, they also have to show the harmonized EU legal-guarantee notice, an official graphic about the two-year legal guarantee that you may not restyle.
Do these rules apply if I only sell to businesses?
Mostly not. The withdrawal right, the 30-day price rule and the guarantee notice protect consumers. A B2B-only shop still has to handle VAT, including the reverse charge, and GDPR for the personal data of its business contacts.
Can you check which rules apply to my shop?
Yes. Tell us what you sell and where you ship, and we will tell you which rules apply and what it takes to meet them, at a flat €65 an hour or a fixed price when the scope is clear.
Not Sure Which Rules Apply to Your Shop?
Tell us what you sell and where you ship. We will tell you which rules apply and what it takes to meet them, at a flat €65 an hour or a fixed price when the scope is clear.
Last reviewed October 14, 2026. These guides are a practical overview for shop owners, not legal advice. For a specific campaign or market, check the position with a qualified adviser or your national consumer authority.