Google Updates Structured Data Requirements For Return Policies

Google now requires ecommerce stores to specify in their structured data which country their return policies apply to.

Key Updates: 

• Country information is now mandatory for return policies in structured data.
• Merchants must update their product structured data to include this field to remain eligible for enhanced search visibility.

Google Updates Structured Data Requirements For Return Policies

Google has updated its structured data guidelines for merchant listings, introducing a new requirement for ecommerce websites. Merchants must now explicitly specify which country their return policies apply to using structured data.

According to Google’s updated documentation, the returnPolicyCountry field is now required in the MerchantReturnPolicy schema.

What Has Changed?

Previously, the MerchantReturnPolicy schema included optional properties such as returnPolicyCategory, merchantReturnDays, and returnFees. Now, Google mandates the returnPolicyCountry field and has updated its structured data examples accordingly.

An updated structured data example now includes:

Implementation Recommendations

To comply with the new guidelines, merchants should:

1. Review and update structured data on product pages to include the returnPolicyCountry field.
2. Use the correct format: The field should contain the ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 country code (e.g., “US” for the United States, “UK” for the United Kingdom).
3. Ensure additional return policy details are included, such as:
   • merchantReturnDays: The number of days customers have to return an item.
   • returnFees: Whether the return is free or requires payment.
   • returnMethod: The available return options (e.g., mail, in-store drop-off).
   • returnShippingFeesAmount: The cost of shipping for returns if applicable.

How To Validate Structured Data

Merchants can verify their implementation using Google’s Rich Results Test tool. Additionally, structured data errors and enhancements can be tracked in Google Search Console’s Merchant Center reports.

Why This Matters

This update aims to provide more transparency to customers by clearly defining where return policies apply. Failing to include this required field may result in structured data markup being ignored, impacting search visibility and product listings.

For more details, refer to the updated Google Search Central documentation.