The European Commission wants to strengthen consumer rights so that they can have their damaged or faulty products (household appliances, televisions, smartphones, etc.) repaired more easily and at a lower cost, including after the expiry of the warranty period. .
Brussels had already proposed in March 2022 a law to strengthen “
eco-design
” so that repairability is taken into account in product design.
The plan presented on Wednesday aims to "
remove the obstacles that still deter too many consumers from getting repairs
".
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Every year, products discarded while they were repairable represent some 35 million tonnes of waste in the EU, while European consumers lose 12 billion euros by buying something new rather than having it repaired. old, believes the European executive.
To remedy this, the new legislative project, which will be negotiated by Member States and MEPs, introduces an unprecedented “
right to compensation
”.
As long as the warranty remains valid (two years minimum), the sellers will have to provide the repair free of charge and “
within a reasonable time
”, unless it proves to be more expensive than a replacement.
Beyond that, 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 with regard to the type of failure or damage).
An obligation covering goods qualified as “
repairable by design
” in European law (household appliances, televisions, etc.), a list which will soon be extended to smartphones and tablets.
Setting up an online platform
“
The rule will be clear: the producer can no longer refuse to repair your washing machine, unless its repair is technically impossible
,” insisted the Commissioner for Justice Didier Reynders.
Once the warranty expires, this will be at the expense of the consumer, but the text anticipates a drop in price thanks to the expected boom in the sector.
“
Consumers will not be forced to go only to the manufacturer.
They will be able to contact independent repairers and find other repair services that better meet their needs or offer more attractive options
,” explained Didier Reynders.
Brussels plans to set up an online platform in each Member State to find repairers and resellers of reconditioned goods.
And to more easily 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 euros, avoid 3 million tonnes of waste, and allow manufacturers and sellers to save 15.6 billion euros by repairing products instead of replacing them free of charge under the legal guarantee, the Commission believes.
