What Does the ZVPot-1 Amendment Bring?
The draft amendment to the Consumer Protection Act (Zakon o varstvu potrošnikov, ZVPot-1), which was submitted for inter-ministerial consultation on 30 June 2026, introduces significant changes for a wide range of market participants — from manufacturers and traders to online marketplace operators and financial services providers. The amendment will transpose three European directives into Slovenian law, aimed at promoting sustainable consumption, curbing misleading advertising, and strengthening consumer rights in relation to purchases and distance contracts.
Which EU Directives Are Being Transposed?
| Directive | Transposition Deadline | Objectives |
Directive (EU) 2024/825 on empowering consumers for the green transition through better protection against unfair practices and better information |
27 March 2026 |
Combating greenwashing, greater transparency of information on the durability and repairability of products, and enhanced consumer protection. |
Directive (EU) 2024/1799 on common rules promoting the repair of goods |
31 July 2026 |
Strengthening the right to repair, extending the lifespan of products, and developing a market for repair and refurbishment of goods. |
Directive (EU) 2023/2673 on financial services contracts concluded at a distance |
19 June 2026 |
Modernisation of rules on concluding financial contracts at a distance, additional consumer protection in the digital environment, and introduction of new rules for online interfaces. |
Key Novelties of the ZVPot-1 Amendment at a Glance
Area |
What Is Changing? |
Right to repair |
A right to repair after the expiry of the legal guarantee of conformity (for certain categories of goods) and a prohibition on manufacturers restricting the repair of goods. |
More information on product durability |
Consumers will receive more information before purchase on the repairability, durability, availability of spare parts, and software updates. |
Ban on greenwashing |
Stricter supervision of environmental claims and sustainability labels, and a prohibition on unsubstantiated and unverified general claims (such as “environmentally friendly” or “eco”). |
Easier withdrawal from online contracts |
Online shops and applications will be required to provide a straightforward means of withdrawing from a contract — the so-called withdrawal button. |
New rules for financial services concluded at a distance |
Strengthened information obligations of providers and enhanced consumer rights when concluding financial contracts online. |
Right to Repair
The most notable novelty is the introduction of a comprehensive right to repair system. For products in respect of which European regulations will set repairability requirements, manufacturers will be required — even after the expiry of the legal guarantee of conformity — to provide repairs, access to spare parts, and maintenance at a reasonable price.
The draft prohibits the use of contractual, hardware, or software restrictions that would unjustifiably impede the repair of products and the procurement of replacement parts. Consumers will be free to choose an independent repairer at their own discretion, and a European online platform for finding repairers and providers of refurbished goods will be established.
The draft amendment also provides that manufacturers will be required to publish information on their freely accessible website concerning the indicative prices charged for standard repairs. In addition, manufacturers will be required to provide consumers with information about their repair services free of charge, in an easily accessible, clear, and comprehensible manner.
An important novelty is the extension of the liability period for the conformity of goods. Where the seller, in the context of its liability for lack of conformity of goods, repairs the product free of charge, the guarantee period is extended once by an additional 12 months. The purpose of this amendment is to encourage consumers to opt for repair as the primary remedy, thereby extending the lifespan of products and reducing waste.
Enhanced Information Obligations
Businesses will be required to provide consumers with more information on the durability, repairability, and lifespan of products. Among other things, the following information will need to be disclosed as part of pre-contractual obligations:
- the duration of any commercial guarantee of durability,
- the period of free software updates,
- information on the availability of spare parts,
- repair options,
- available environmentally friendly delivery methods.
Consumers will thus be able to compare products not only by price, but also by their durability and repair options.
Stricter Rules Against Greenwashing
The amendment introduces a number of new prohibitions in the area of environmental advertising. In particular, the following will be prohibited:
- generic environmental claims without adequate substantiation, such as statements like “environmentally friendly” or “eco”,
- claims about future environmental performance without a verifiable implementation plan,
- misleading statements about the durability or repairability of products,
- concealing the negative effects of software updates on the functioning of a product,
- encouraging premature replacement of consumables without a technical reason.
Businesses will be required to substantiate their environmental claims appropriately, which will have a significant impact on marketing activities and product labelling.
Easier Withdrawal from Online Contracts
For contracts concluded through online shops, applications, or other online interfaces, a clear and permanently accessible withdrawal function will need to be provided. Consumers must be able to submit a withdrawal statement electronically in a manner that is just as straightforward as the process by which the contract was concluded.
The draft also introduces stricter rules against so-called “dark patterns” — deceptive design features of online interfaces that discourage consumers from exercising their rights or present less favourable options as more attractive.
New Obligations for Distance Financial Services
Additional protections will also be extended to consumers who conclude financial services contracts online. Among other things, the draft introduces:
- additional reminders regarding the right to withdraw from a contract,
- the right to receive free explanations of contractual terms,
- the right to request human intervention in processes involving automated tools,
- stricter rules on the presentation of key information prior to the conclusion of a contract.
Slovenia: Where Do We Stand?
The draft amendment to ZVPot-1 is currently in the inter-ministerial consultation phase and has not yet been submitted to the legislative procedure before the National Assembly.
Although the final wording of the act may still change, the published draft indicates that businesses will need to adapt:
- their general terms and conditions,
- their online shops and user interfaces,
- their marketing materials,
- their product durability information management systems,
- their procedures for handling repair requests,
- their procedures for concluding distance contracts.
How Can We Help?
The new regulatory framework does not merely entail additional information obligations — it represents a significant shift towards more sustainable consumption, greater corporate responsibility, and enhanced consumer protection in the digital environment. Businesses that review their sales processes, online channels, and marketing practices in a timely manner will be in a considerably better position to ensure compliance with the new legislation once it is adopted.
Our team would be happy to assist you with a review of the compliance of your website content, general terms and conditions, marketing materials, and procedures for the exercise of consumer rights.
