Law guide
The withdrawal button: what Ireland law requires
Since 30 June 2026, online shops selling to consumers in Ireland must offer a withdrawal function on their site — a clearly labelled button on the page itself. Here we explain what that means for your shop in plain English. This is general information, not legal advice.
The law in Ireland at a glance
- Law
- In force
- Applies from
- 30 June 2026
- Button wording
cancel contract here
(wording in the law, pending our legal verification)- Confirmation wording
confirm cancellation
(wording in the law, pending our legal verification)- Label status
- Label pending legal verification
Monitoring – label pending legal verification. Until a lawyer has verified the national wording, the widget shows the wording of the EU directive in your customers' language.
- Legal reference
Show details: Legal reference
Consumer Rights Act 2022 (No. 37 of 2022), section 115A ("Exercise of right to cancel through online cancellation function"). It was inserted by Regulation 6 of the European Union (Distance Contracts for Financial Services) Regulations 2026 (S.I. No. 309 of 2026).
Shortened summary from our research notes (in English).
- Penalties
Show details: Penalties
Contravening s.115A(1), (2), (3) or (4) is a criminal offence (s.115A(6)). Under CRA 2022 s.142(1) the penalty is: - on summary conviction, a class A fine (up to €5,000 under Fines Act 2010 s.3) or up to 12 months' imprisonment, or both; - on conviction on indictment, a fine of up to €60,000 or up to 18 months' imprisonment, or both.
Shortened summary from our research notes (in English).
- Last checked
- 25 September 2026
Sources
- Source 1: irishstatutebook.ie (external link)
- Source 2: irishstatutebook.ie (external link)
- Source 3: irishstatutebook.ie (external link)
- Source 4: irishstatutebook.ie (external link)
- Source 5: irishstatutebook.ie (external link)
- Source 6: irishstatutebook.ie (external link)
- Source 7: irishstatutebook.ie (external link)
- Source 8: irishstatutebook.ie (external link)
- Source 9: irishstatutebook.ie (external link)
- Source 10: gov.ie (external link)
- Source 11: mccannfitzgerald.com (external link)
- Source 12: algoodbody.com (external link)
- Source 13: hb.betterregulation.com (external link)
Button wording, dates and legal references on this site come from our country registry, which lists its sources and the date of the last check.
What the withdrawal function has to do
A clearly labelled function
It carries wording that leaves the consumer in no doubt they are withdrawing from the contract. Wording from our registry:cancel contract here
(wording in the law, pending our legal verification).Visible for the whole withdrawal period
The button stays prominent and easy to reach on the site or app for as long as the consumer can withdraw — for example, at the bottom of every page.Only the necessary details
The consumer gives or confirms their name, details that identify the contract — such as the order number — and an email address for the confirmation.A separate confirmation step
After entering their details, the consumer confirms the statement with a second, separate action. Wording from our registry:confirm cancellation
(wording in the law, pending our legal verification).An acknowledgement on a durable medium
The trader acknowledges receipt without undue delay on a durable medium, such as an email, stating the content of the statement and the date and time it was submitted.
Who the rule concerns
The rule applies to distance contracts that consumers conclude through an online interface — a website or an app — where they have a right of withdrawal. That means it concerns, above all, online shops that sell to consumers.
Whether and from when it applies to your shop depends on your contracts and on the countries you sell into. The function is an additional way to withdraw: your other information duties, such as the withdrawal information in your terms, still stand. If in doubt, ask a solicitor.
What to do now
Check your site
Our free checker shows what it finds on the page you enter: is there a visible button with the wording the law expects, and can a consumer reach it without logging in?Add the function
The button, the two-step form and the automatic confirmation email need to work together. You can build them yourself, use a feature of your platform, or add them with Clawzia and one line of code.Review your terms
Ask a solicitor whether the withdrawal information in your terms and order emails needs to mention the new function.Get ready to handle withdrawals
Decide who receives withdrawal notifications and how returns and refunds are organised. Keep a record of every withdrawal you receive.
Wording, dates and penalties come from the registry
Questions about the law
From when does the obligation apply?
Applicable date from our registry: 30 June 2026 (law status: Law: In force). Details and sources are in the facts above.
What wording must the button use?
According to our registry, the button wording in Ireland is cancel contract here
(wording in the law, pending our legal verification), and the confirmation step reads confirm cancellation
(wording in the law, pending our legal verification). We mark wording as verified only after a solicitor has reviewed it — ask yours which wording your shop must use.
What happens to a shop without the function?
The consequences are set by national law. A summary of the penalties from our registry, with links to the sources, is in the facts above.
Do I need it if some of my products can't be returned?
The function concerns contracts that come with a right of withdrawal. Which of your contracts qualify is a legal question — ask a solicitor. If you sell a mixed range, remember consumers use the same button for every order.
I only sell to businesses. Does this affect me?
The right of withdrawal is a consumer right. Whether and how the rules affect your sales is a question for your solicitor. Clawzia is built for shops that sell to consumers.
Does the function replace my withdrawal information?
No. It is an additional way to withdraw. The withdrawal information in your terms and your other information duties still apply.
Selling into other EU countries too?
Every country transposes the rule with its own wording, dates and penalties. The EU hub shows the status of the law in every EU country from our registry.
Not legal advice