ContractProof · food & beverage
Distance selling to EU/UK consumers means a 14-day right of withdrawal, mandatory pre-contractual information, the model withdrawal form, and order confirmation on a durable medium. Miss the withdrawal disclosure and the cooling-off period stretches to 12 months. Check yours in 60 seconds.
Food and beverage sellers face safety, labeling and packaging rules on the product side, plus the usual privacy, review and distance-selling duties for selling online.
This rule applies to food sellers who sell goods or services online to consumers in the EU or UK. Sell online to EU consumers? You owe a 14-day right of withdrawal, pre-contract info, the model withdrawal form, and order confirmation on a durable medium. Not sure? The free checker tells you in about a minute — no signup.
You need to be able to answer "yes" to each of these — the points food sellers most often get caught on:
⚠️ Exposure: 12-month extended withdrawal period for missing disclosures + fines up to 4% of annual turnover (Omnibus Dir. 2019/2161) · Status: In force.
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Food and beverage sellers face safety, labeling and packaging rules on the product side, plus the usual privacy, review and distance-selling duties for selling online. Sell online to EU consumers? You owe a 14-day right of withdrawal, pre-contract info, the model withdrawal form, and order confirmation on a durable medium.
Under the EU Consumer Rights Directive, consumers buying online (at a distance) can withdraw from the contract within 14 days without giving any reason. For goods, the period runs from the day they receive them; for services, from when the contract is concluded.
If you fail to inform the consumer of the right of withdrawal before they're bound, the withdrawal period is extended by up to 12 months on top of the original 14 days (Art. 10). Disclose it up front.
The main characteristics, the total price including all taxes and delivery, your identity and geographical address, delivery/performance arrangements, the right of withdrawal plus the model form, and how to complain — clearly, before the order is placed.
RuleGoose checks this against the EU Consumer Rights Directive 2011/83/EU (as amended by Dir. (EU) 2019/2161). Read it yourself: EUR-Lex — Directive 2011/83/EU →
or get one RuleGoose Score across every rule a food & beverage business has to meet.
EU consumer rights (distance selling) is one of several rules a food & beverage business has to meet. See the full food & beverage compliance checklist →, or read the platform-neutral EU consumer rights (distance selling) guide.
Informational only, not legal advice, and not affiliated with the EU. Last reviewed 2026-06-30.