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Law guide

The withdrawal button: what the law requires in Malta

Since 19 June 2026, online shops in Malta must let consumers withdraw from a contract online — through a clearly labelled button on the website. Here we explain, in plain language, what this means for your shop. This is general information, not legal advice.

What to doFree shop checker

The law in Malta at a glance

The details come from our country registry: the status of the law, the date it applies from, the button and confirmation wording, the legal reference and the penalties — with sources and the date of our last check (25 September 2026). Wording a lawyer has not yet verified is marked as such.
Law
In force
Applies from
19 June 2026
Button wording
withdraw from contract here (wording in the law, pending our legal verification)
Confirmation wording
confirm withdrawal (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

L.N. 145 of 2026: Consumer Rights (Amendment) Regulations, 2026 (MT: A.L. 145 tal-2026, Regolamenti tal-2026 li jemendaw ir-Regolamenti dwar id-Drittijiet tal-Konsumatur). Made under art. 7 of the Consumer Affairs Act (Cap. 378). Published in Government Gazette of Malta No. 21,638 (Supplement, Part B) of 05.05.2026, pp. B 1533-1538.

Shortened summary from our research notes (in English).

Penalties
Show details: Penalties

S.L. 378.17 reg. 27(1): on judicial proceedings instituted by the Director General (Consumer Affairs), the Civil Court (Commercial Section) imposes a penalty of EUR 500 to EUR 47,000 on any person who fails to comply with any provision of the regulations, which now includes reg. 13A. The Consumer Affairs Act (Cap. 378) adds: - Art. 106A(2): a penalty of EUR 470 to EUR 47,000 per infringement.

Shortened summary from our research notes (in English).

Last checked
25 September 2026

Sources

  1. Source 1: legislation.mt (external link)
  2. Source 2: legislation.mt (external link)
  3. Source 3: legislation.mt (external link)
  4. Source 4: legislation.mt (external link)
  5. Source 5: legislation.mt (external link)
  6. Source 6: legislation.mt (external link)
  7. Source 7: legislation.mt (external link)
  8. Source 8: mccaa.org.mt (external link)
  9. Source 9: klikk.com.mt (external link)
  10. Source 10: legislation.mt (external link)
  11. Source 11: legislation.mt (external link)
  12. Source 12: legislation.mt (external link)
  13. Source 13: legislation.mt (external link)
  14. Source 14: legal500.com (external link)
  15. Source 15: mamotcv.com (external link)
  16. Source 16: mondaq.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

The rule comes from Directive (EU) 2023/2673, Art. 11a CRD. In short, it describes the elements below; the national law transposes them and can add further detail.

  1. A clearly labelled button

    The function carries an unambiguous label that immediately tells the consumer they are withdrawing from the contract. Wording per our registry: withdraw from contract here (wording in the law, pending our legal verification).

  2. Visible throughout the withdrawal period

    The button sits in a prominent, easy-to-reach place on the site or app for as long as the consumer can still withdraw — for example in the footer of every page.

  3. 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.

  4. A separate confirmation step

    Once the details are entered, the consumer confirms the statement with a second, separate button. Wording per our registry: confirm withdrawal (wording in the law, pending our legal verification).

  5. 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 concerns contracts that consumers conclude at a distance through an online interface — a website or an app — where they hold a right of withdrawal. It therefore concerns, above all, online shops that sell to end consumers.

Whether and from when it applies to your shop depends on your contracts and on the countries you sell to. The function is an additional way to withdraw: your other information duties, such as the withdrawal information in your terms and conditions, remain. If in doubt, ask a lawyer.

What to do now

  1. Check your site

    Does every page carry a visible button with the wording the law requires? Can a consumer reach it without logging in? Our free checker shows what it finds on the page you enter.

  2. 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.

  3. Review your terms and conditions

    Check with a lawyer whether the withdrawal information in your terms and in order emails should mention the new function.

  4. Prepare how you handle withdrawals

    Decide who receives withdrawal notifications and how returns and refunds are organised. Keep a record of every withdrawal you receive.

The wording, dates and penalties come from the registry

The exact button wording, the date the law applies from and the penalties are set by national law. Our registry records them with sources and marks wording a lawyer has not yet verified. Until the national wording is verified, the Clawzia widget shows the wording of the EU directive in the consumer's language, and the dashboard marks it as unverified.

Questions about the law

From when does the obligation apply?

The date it applies from, per our registry: 19 June 2026 (law status: Law: In force). Details and sources are in the data above.

What wording must the button show?

Per our registry, the button wording in Malta is withdraw from contract here (wording in the law, pending our legal verification), and the confirmation step reads confirm withdrawal (wording in the law, pending our legal verification). We mark wording as verified only after a lawyer has reviewed it. Ask your lawyer which wording your shop should use.

What happens to a shop without a withdrawal function?

The consequences are set by national law. A summary of the penalties in our registry, with links to sources, is in the data above.

Do I need the function if some of my goods cannot be returned?

The function concerns contracts that come with a right of withdrawal. Which of your contracts qualify is a legal question — ask a lawyer. If you sell a mixed range, keep in mind that consumers use the same button for every order.

I only sell to businesses. Does this concern me?

The right of withdrawal is a consumer right. Whether and how the rules affect your sales is a question for your lawyer. Clawzia is built for shops that sell to consumers.

Does the function replace the withdrawal information I already give?

No. It is an additional way to withdraw. The withdrawal information in your terms and conditions, and your other information duties, remain.

Selling into other EU countries too?

Each country transposes the rule with its own wording, dates and penalties. Our EU hub (in English) shows the status of the law in every EU country, per our registry.

Add the withdrawal function to your shop

Clawzia shows the button with the wording from our registry, guides consumers through the two-step form, sends the confirmation email and keeps a verifiable record of every withdrawal.
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