VerbRÄG 2026: new duties in online sales

With the Consumer Rights Amendment Act 2026, the legislator has modernised the rules for selling to consumers in two stages: the provisions on financial services have applied since 19 June 2026, the sustainability information duties follow on 27 September 2026.

Financial services move into the FAGG

The previous Distance Financial Services Act was repealed; distance contracts for financial services are now governed by the Fern- und Auswärtsgeschäfte-Gesetz (FAGG, the Austrian act on distance and off-premises contracts). For providers this means information duties, withdrawal instructions and contract processes must be migrated to the new framework – verbatim reuse of old templates will not do.

Personalised prices must be disclosed

Anyone personalising prices on the basis of automated decision-making – for instance by browsing behaviour or customer profile – must in future inform consumers before the contract is concluded. The notice belongs in the ordering process, not in the small print.

Durability, repairability, updates

From autumn, information duties on the durability and repairability of goods are added, including information on software updates for digital products. Together with the greenwashing rules passed in parallel, this forms a package that affects product communication and shop copy across the board.

Our recommendation

Online retailers and service providers should review the ordering flow, terms and product pages in one pass: withdrawal instructions up to date? Personalised-pricing notice in place where needed? Product information on durability and updates prepared? A coordinated overhaul before 27 September saves adapting twice.