General Terms and Conditions for E-commerce 2026 – what must be included?

Short answer: General terms and conditions for e-commerce must reflect how the store actually sells while complying with mandatory consumer regulations. During 2026, it is particularly important that terms and website features are updated for the rules on the right of withdrawal and the withdrawal function that took effect on June 19, 2026, for contracts concluded through online interfaces.

What are general terms and conditions?

General terms and conditions describe the standard rules that apply between the seller and the customer. For e-commerce, this includes aspects such as price, payment, delivery, conclusion of the contract, complaints, the right of withdrawal, digital products, and liability. The terms must be accessible before the purchase and may not diminish the consumer's rights under mandatory law.

Which laws are particularly relevant?

• The Distance Contracts Act
• The Consumer Sales Act
• The E-commerce Act
• The Marketing Act
• Rules on digital content and digital services
• GDPR when processing personal data

Pre-purchase information requirements

Before the contract, the customer must receive clear information regarding, among other things, the trader's identity and contact details, the main characteristics of the product or service, price, payment, delivery, complaints, and the right of withdrawal where applicable. It is therefore important that the terms are aligned with product descriptions and the checkout process.

New withdrawal function from June 19, 2026

For contracts concluded through an online interface, the trader must provide an easily accessible function for exercising the right of withdrawal throughout the withdrawal period. The function must allow the consumer to identify the contract and expressly confirm the withdrawal, after which a receipt must be sent without delay. This is not just a text matter in the terms and conditions but also a requirement for the e-commerce flow itself.

Right of withdrawal and exceptions

The main rule for many distance purchases is a 14-day right of withdrawal, but the law includes exceptions. For digital content, the right may be affected if delivery starts after express consent and other legal requirements are met. The terms must therefore be adapted to what the store actually sells.

Delivery, risk, and delay

Describe delivery methods, estimated delivery time, and what happens in case of delay. Digital products instead need clear rules on when and how the customer gains access to the file or service.

Complaints and defects

The terms should explain how the customer makes a complaint without giving the impression that the consumer has fewer rights than the law provides. Avoid your own short complaint deadlines that could be perceived as limiting the rights granted by law.

B2B and B2C should not be confused

Terms between companies can often be drafted more freely than consumer terms. If the same website sells to both businesses and consumers, it should be clear which rules apply to each customer category.

Common mistakes

• Terms copied from another store with a different business model
• Old references to repealed legislation
• Incorrect wording regarding complaints or the right of withdrawal
• No regulation of digital delivery
• Terms and checkout stating different things
• Lack of a withdrawal function despite the requirement being applicable

See Mallbutiken's template package for general terms and conditions for e-commerce and business.

FAQ

Is it enough to link the terms in the footer?

Important pre-contractual information must be provided in a way that meets legal requirements before the contract is concluded. A footer link therefore does not automatically solve all information requirements.

Can you exclude the right of withdrawal in the terms?

No, not when the consumer has a mandatory right of withdrawal. Exceptions must have legal support and be handled correctly.

Must the terms be changed when the law changes?

Yes, the terms should be revised when relevant rules, sales flows, or products change.

Legal source: The Act (2005:59) on distance contracts and contracts outside business premises, including amendments by the Act (2026:246).

The article provides general information and does not replace legal advice.