The European Commission wants to strengthen the rights of consumers so that they can repair their damaged or defective products more easily and cheaply – household appliances, televisions, smartphones – even after the expiration of the warranty period.
Brussels had already proposed a law in March 2022 to reinforce “ecodesign” so that repairability is taken into account in the design of products. The plan unveiled Wednesday aims to “remove obstacles that still deter many consumers from getting repairs.”
35 million tons of waste
Every year, products discarded while repairable represent some 35 million tons of waste in the EU, while European consumers lose 12 billion euros buying something new instead of repairing old, the European executive believes.
To remedy this, the new legislative project, which will be negotiated by Member States and MEPs, introduces an unprecedented “right to repair”. As long as the warranty is still valid (two years minimum), sellers must provide the repair free of charge and “within a reasonable time” unless it is more expensive than a replacement.
Beyond this, manufacturers will be required to repair a product for 5 to 10 years after purchase, depending on the type of product, unless this is impossible given the type of failure or damage. An obligation that reaches goods classified as “repairable by design” in European legislation (home appliances, televisions, etc.), a list that will soon be extended to smartphones and tablets.
Industry growth
Once the guarantee expires, it will be borne by the consumer, but the text anticipates a price drop thanks to the expected boom in the sector.
“Consumers will not be forced to go to the manufacturer alone. They will be able to go to independent repair shops and find other repair services that better meet their needs or offer more attractive options,” Reynders explained.
Brussels plans to set up an online platform in each Member State to find repairers and resellers of refurbished goods. And to make it easier to compare different options, consumers will be able to request a standard “information form” detailing the terms of the repair.
Over 15 years, the text could save consumers up to €176.5 billion, prevent 3 million tonnes of waste and enable manufacturers and sellers to save €15.6 billion by repairing products instead of replacing them free of charge under warranty. legal, believes the Commission.
Source: BFM TV
