As of today, the EU anti-waste directive introducing the right to repair products is in force

Brussels – The EU directive introducing the right to product repair came into force today (July 30). After an intense legislative process that ended with an overwhelming approval of the text in the European Parliament at the end of April, the new rules promoting more sustainable consumption are now ready to be implemented within (and no later than) the next two years: the 27 EU member states will have until July 31, 2026, to transpose the EU directive into their national legislation. “It will make repairs a reality, not just during the legal warranty period. It will also contribute to developing the whole ecosystem of repair, reuse, and refurbishment,” said Justice Commissioner Didier Reynders.

According to the goals of the Green Deal, fewer discarded products mean less waste, fewer materials needed to produce new goods, and fewer greenhouse gas emissions in the production and sales process. In terms of savings, the new EU Right to Repair Directive should translate into 18.5 million tons of greenhouse gas emissions, 1.8 million tons of resources, and 3 million tons of waste saved over 15 years. However, it should also lead to substantial economic savings: 15.6 billion euros for sellers and manufacturers over the next 15 years and 176.5 billion for consumers, while growth and investment in the repair sector will increase by 4.8 billion euros.

What the EU right to repair directive provides

The new directive focuses on two strands: pushing repair within the two-year legal warranty period with “easier and cheaper” options and protecting consumers even beyond this period “for any defect that may occur.” Repair will be promoted during and beyond the two-year legal warranty period: sellers will have to offer free repair within the legal warranty period – except when it is more expensive than replacement – while consumers should be given incentives not to choose replacement within the liability period. Levers of the right to repair include vouchers, national funds, and extending of the one-year legal warranty for repaired products.

Household washing machines, dryers, and dishwashers, refrigeration appliances, electronic displays, welding equipment, vacuum cleaners, servers, and data storage: for all these consumer goods, manufacturers will have to take action for 5 to 10 years after the purchase, depending on product type and repairability requirements: improving ease of disassembly, access to spare parts and repair information. The list will include cell phones, cordless phones, and tablets once respective repairability requirements for eco-design are adopted. The two-year extended warranty remains unchanged, as it would pressure consumers to replace “even more,” EU officials explain. In the first ‘protected’ time frame, the right to repair would be made explicit by the seller’s obligation to repair defective or worn products unless repair is more expensive than replacement. Once the legal warranty expires (when sellers and manufacturers no longer have obligations towards consumers), a range of tools would apply for the temporary extension of the right to repair.

For products that are “technically repairable,” according to EU requirements, intervention will be required in the event of both defect and wear and tear, ensuring that consumers always have someone to turn to. There will also be a European quality standard of durability and availability for repair services, making it easier with a list to identify who is committed to a common minimum standard. Manufacturers will also have to inform consumers about products they have to repair themselves and an online matching platform to connect all levels of the refurbished product value chain, with the ability to search by location and quality of standards. As a final lever of the right to repair, there will be a European repair information form to make conditions and prices transparent and to facilitate comparison of offers.

Repairs will have to take place within a “reasonable” time frame, and manufacturers will have to be able to offer replacement devices on loan to consumers (or refurbished, in the case of unrepairable products). Repairers and end-users will have access to all spare parts, information, and tools at a reasonable cost “throughout the lifetime of a product” to promote competition, reduce repair costs, and offer consumers more choices. Through national online platforms, consumers can find not only local repairers and sellers of refurbished goods but also an overview of repair conditions for each device (such as maximum price and time required) to compare different offers.