Google has announced an update to its Search Central documentation, introducing support for certification markup in product structured data.
This change will take full effect in April and aims to provide more comprehensive and globally relevant product information.
New Certification Markup For Merchant Listings
Google has added Certification markup support for merchant listings in its product structured data documentation.
This addition allows retailers and ecommerce sites to include detailed certification information about their products
Transition From EnergyConsumptionDetails to Certification Type
A key aspect of this update is replacing the EnergyConsumptionDetails type with the more versatile Certification type.
The new type can support a wider range of countries and broader certifications.
Google recommends websites using EnergyConsumptionDetails in their structured data to switch to the Certification type before April.
This will ensure product pages remain optimized for Google’s merchant listing experiences.
Expanded Capabilities & Global Relevance
The move to the Certification type represents an expansion in the types of product certifications that can be communicated through structured data.
While energy efficiency ratings were a primary focus of the EnergyConsumptionDetails type, the new Certification markup can encompass a much wider array of product certifications and standards.
This change is relevant for businesses operating in multiple countries, as it allows for more nuanced and locally applicable certification information to be included