Google has announced an update to its product structured data documentation, introducing support for the Certification markup in merchant listings. This change is set to take effect in April 2025.

Key Points:

1. New Markup Type: The Certification type will replace the current EnergyConsumptionDetails type.

2. Expanded Coverage: This new type supports a broader range of certifications and is applicable to more countries.

3. Implementation: Merchants can now use the hasCertification property within their product structured data to specify various certifications.

4. Example Use Case: The update allows for the inclusion of certifications such as CO2 emissions classes for vehicles.

Sample Structured Data:

Google provided an example of how to implement the new certification markup for a vehicle with a German CO2 emissions class "D":

{
  "@type": "Product",
  "name": "Big Car",
  "hasCertification": {
    "@type": "Certification",
    "issuedBy": {
      "@type": "Organization",
      "name": "BMWK"
    },
    "name": "Vehicle_CO2_Class",
    "certificationRating": {
      "@type": "Rating",
      "ratingValue": "D"
    }
  }
  // ... other product details
}

This update aims to provide more detailed and standardized information about product certifications in search results, potentially improving user experience and product discoverability. This article focuses on the core details of the Google Search update, presenting the information concisely and without exaggeration. It outlines the specific changes to the structured data support and includes a brief example of the new markup.