If you run a Slovak e-shop, you are facing one of the most important legislative deadlines in recent years. From 19 June 2026, e-shops will be obliged to add a withdrawal button to their website. This is not a recommendation or good practice - it's a legal obligation for which the Slovak Trade Inspection can fine you.
What the law says
The basis is the new Consumer Protection Act No. 108/2024 Coll., which modernises consumer legislation and brings it into line with EU law. The law entered into force on 22 May 2024 and takes effect from 1 July 2024. The technical requirements for the button itself are based on EU Directive 2023/2673 and will become mandatory across the EU from 19 June 2026 at the latest.
This fundamental right is not new: according to Section 7 of Act No. 102/2014 Coll. (now consolidated into Act No. 108/2024), the consumer has the right to withdraw from a distance contract within 14 days of receipt of the goods, without giving any reason and without any penalty. The novelty is that, Like the e-shop must make this right technically available.
What exactly is changing
The European Union is changing the way e-shops should allow customers to withdraw from a contract. From 2026, a form hidden in the terms and conditions or a link somewhere in the FAQ will no longer be enough. Withdrawing from a contract must be as easy as the purchase itself - directly through the e-shop interface. E-shops will be obliged to introduce a clear and unambiguous button (or similar control) to allow the consumer to withdraw from the contract online.
In other words: hiding a PDF form in the footer of a website is not enough.
What the button must meet
The law requires unambiguous wording. The recommended wording is „Withdraw from the contract here“ or similar clear wording. The button must not be misleading or hidden in the footer of the site among dozens of other links. It must be permanently accessible throughout the withdrawal period.
Once clicked, the customer only needs to fill in the minimum necessary:
- first and last name,
- order identification (invoice/order number),
- identification of the goods to which the withdrawal relates.
Immediately after dispatch, the e-shop must send the customer an automatic confirmation of receipt of the withdrawal, e.g. by e-mail.
As regards refunds: the trader must refund to the consumer all payments received from him, including transport, delivery, postage and other costs and charges, within 14 days of the date of receipt of the withdrawal notice.
What is the penalty for non-compliance
Failure to comply with information obligations has direct legal consequences. If the seller fails to properly inform the consumer about the right of withdrawal, the law extends the withdrawal period by up to another 12 months - so the consumer can withdraw within 12 months + 14 days from receipt of the goods. In addition to the extended period, the consumer is also liable to a fine from the SOI.
Where to place the button
For WooCommerce e-shops, the ideal place is the „My Orders“ section in the customer account or a separate sub-page dedicated to returns, linked from the main menu or order confirmation.
Ready-made solution for WooCommerce
If you don't want to deal with custom development, there is a ready-made plugin directly for the Slovak market. The plugin for WooCommerce will generate a full-featured form for any subpage and automatically add a withdrawal button to orders in the customer account. The customer clicks the button in their account or opens the shortcode page, the system verifies the order details and checks if the time limit has expired. The customer selects the items to be returned, enters the IBAN and confirms the request. Both you and the customer will receive an email notification and the details will be saved in the system.
The plugin is available at MakeMeHappy.sk → Withdrawal button for a one-off fee of 19 €.