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.