Harmonised label durability — Harmonised commercial guarantee of durability label
A European harmonised label for communicating the commercial guarantee of durability to the consumer. Defined in Regulation (EU) 2025/1960 Annex II as an ECGT instrument.
Context
The harmonised durability label (harmonised label) is the standardised visual seal that the ECGT Directive (EU) 2024/825 introduces for traders to communicate to the consumer the expected durability of products covered by the ECGT regime. Its format and content are defined through delegated acts of the European Commission.
Regulatory origin
Established in the ECGT Directive (EU) 2024/825 (amendment of Directive 2011/83/EU Consumer Rights Directive) and operationally developed in Regulation (EU) 2025/1960 (Annex II), which defines the format, mandatory content and application rules.
«In order to ensure that consumers are well informed and can easily understand what information the trader is communicating about the commercial guarantee of durability, a visually recognisable harmonised label must apply.»
View verbatim quote in English
“In order to ensure that consumers are well informed and can easily understand what information the trader is communicating about the commercial guarantee of durability, a harmonised label that is visually recognisable should apply”
When it applies
Products covered by the legal guarantee of conformity (Dir. 2019/771).
When the producer offers a commercial guarantee of durability (voluntary but binding).
When the three cumulative conditions of Art. 5(1)(ea) of the amended CRD are met.
Timeline
ECGT Directive
Directive (EU) 2024/825 published in OJEU L 6.3.2024 introduces the concept of the harmonised label.
Regulation 2025/1960
Regulation (EU) 2025/1960 defines the format and content of the harmonised label.
ECGT transposition
Member States transpose the national measures for the harmonised label.
Effective application
Products placed on the market must include the harmonised label where applicable.
Applied case
A textile brand selling premium wool coats assesses whether it must apply the harmonised label durability after the ECGT transposition enters into force in Spain.
Product: a 100 per cent merino wool coat with a retail price of €650.
Commercial decision: the brand offers a 5-year commercial guarantee of durability.
Substance: backed by durability testing under the ISO 12947 standard (abrasion resistance >40,000 cycles).
Application: the harmonised label of Annex II Reg. 2025/1960 accompanies the product in the physical store + online product sheet · clearly stating "Commercial guarantee of durability: 5 years".
Coexistence: alongside the harmonised label durability, the product carries the harmonised notice of Annex I with the mandatory 2-year legal guarantee of conformity.
Common mistakes
The harmonised label is NOT generic or adaptable: the design of Annex II Reg. 2025/1960 is binding throughout the EU.
Reg. 2025/1960 sets an identical design for all Member States — the components (title "GARAN", check mark, calendar, reminder, QR code) are mandatory and cannot be modified. A version adapted by the trader or a national adaptation does NOT comply. Cross-border consistency is the objective of Art. 22a CRD, in faithful paraphrase: to ensure that consumers are well informed and can easily understand their rights throughout the Union.
The harmonised label coexists with the harmonised notice — they are not alternatives.
Reg. 2025/1960 covers two instruments: a harmonised notice (Annex I, legal guarantee of conformity, all products) + a harmonised label (Annex II, commercial guarantee of durability where applicable). When a product has a commercial guarantee of durability with the three conditions met, it must display BOTH — the notice (legal) AND the label (commercial). The label does not replace the notice.
The 27 Sep 2025 deadline was for the Commission to adopt the Regulation — APPLICATION by traders is from 27 Sep 2026.
Art. 22a paragraph 4 of the amended CRD, in faithful paraphrase: by 27 September 2025 at the latest the Commission shall specify the design. Reg. 2025/1960 meets that deadline. The application of the label by traders takes effect with the national ECGT transposition from 27 Sep 2026 (Art. 4 ECGT). A brand that uses the label before 27 Sep 2026 does so voluntarily — the obligation arises on 27 Sep 2026.
The QR code on the harmonised label does NOT replace the information in the same medium: it complements it.
The QR code provides access to additional information, but the essential information (existence of the guarantee and duration) is already visible on the physical or digital label. The obligation of Art. 5(1)(ea) and 6(1)(la) CRD is to communicate in a prominent manner, using the harmonised label — the QR is a complement, it does not require the consumer to scan in order to learn about the guarantee.
The manufacturer supplies the data to the trader; the trader displays the label — the QR may direct to the trader's or the manufacturer's page.
Art. 5(1)(ea) CRD as amended, in faithful paraphrase: the manufacturer offers the guarantee and makes that information available to the trader. The manufacturer must provide the information (duration, terms) to the trader; the trader must display the harmonised label in accordance with Annex II. The QR may direct to a trader's page (with commercial info), the manufacturer's (technical terms), or both — the operational decision is the trader's but the display obligation is theirs.
Frequently asked questions
What is the harmonised label durability?
An EU harmonised product-durability label, provided for in the ESPR (Reg. EU 2024/1781) Art. 5.1.a and developable through sector-specific delegated acts. Similar to the energy label for household appliances (A-G scale), it would communicate to the consumer the expected durability of the product in a standardised and comparable way.
Does the harmonised label durability already apply to textiles?
NOT in 2026. The textile harmonised label is provided for in the ESPR textile delegated act (in preparation). Application estimated for Q1-Q3 2027 with a transitional period. In the meantime, brands may communicate durability voluntarily under the ECGT (commercial guarantee of durability).
How will the harmonised label durability be calculated?
Pending final definition by the textile delegated act. Probably based on: (i) the number of wash-dry cycles before visible degradation, (ii) abrasion resistance, (iii) colour stability, (iv) the integrity of seams and trims under normal use. The PEFCR Apparel & Footwear v3.1 methodology already defines a functional unit of 1 day of use integrating durability.
What is the difference between the harmonised label durability and the energy label?
The energy label applies to household appliances under Reg. EU 2017/1369 (energy consumption). The harmonised label durability will apply to products under the ESPR (durability). They share an A-G visual format but measure different things. For household appliances both labels may coexist (energy + durability) if the delegated act establishes it.
Fuentes oficiales
- European Commission · OJEU25 sep 2025Implementing Regulation in force
- European Parliament and Council · OJEU OJ L of 6.3.202428 feb 2024Directive in force
- European Parliament and Council · OJEU25 oct 2011 (modificada por Dir. 2024/825)Base directive
- European Commission · DG JUST2025-2026Official information
