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BRUSSELS - EU negotiators have reached a preliminary agreement on a draft law aimed at reducing waste and boosting the repair sector by making product repairs more accessible and cost-effective. The EU Parliament and Council reached a political agreement on Thursday on strengthening the "right to repair" for consumers. The agreed rules clarify the obligations of manufacturers and encourage consumers to extend the life of a product by repairing it.
Beyond the legal guarantee
Consumers will benefit from new rights that will make repairs after the legal warranty has expired more attractive and easier. Key provisions of the agreement include:
- manufacturers' duty to repair common household products such as washing machines, vacuum cleaners and even smartphones, with the possibility of adding more products to the list over time;
- a requirement that consumers be informed of the manufacturer's obligation to repair;
- the option for consumers to borrow a replacement device while their own device is being repaired, or to choose a refurbished device as an alternative;
- free online access to indicative repair prices;
- additional extension of the statutory warranty for repaired goods by one year.
Reviving the repair market
Members of the European Parliament have played a key role in strengthening and increasing the competitiveness of the repair market in the EU. Manufacturers will need to ensure that spare parts and tools are available at a reasonable price. Agreement was also reached on a ban for manufacturers to use contractual clauses, hardware or software techniques that would hinder repairs. In particular, they should not prevent independent repairers from using used spare parts, including compatible spare parts or parts created by 3D printing, as long as they comply with the requirements of national or Union law.
Facilitating repair services across the EU
A European online platform with national sections will be set up to facilitate the repair process. Through these platforms, consumers in each EU country will be able to find local repair shops, remanufacturers, buyers of defective goods or community repair initiatives such as repair cafes.
Support for affordable repairs
Parliament has prioritised making repairs much more affordable for consumers. Negotiators agreed that each Member State would have to introduce at least one measure to promote repairs, such as vouchers and repair funds, information campaigns, repair courses or support for community-run repair facilities, or, in line with existing taxation rules, a reduction in the VAT rate on repair services.
Quote:
The rapporteur, René Repasi (S&D, DE), said: 'With today's agreement, we are closer to introducing a consumer right to repair. In future, it will be easier and cheaper to have products repaired instead of buying new, expensive ones. This is a major achievement for the European Parliament, which is strongly committed to empowering consumers in the fight against climate change. The agreement introduces an additional 12-month legal guarantee for products and ensures better access to spare parts for independent repairers. In addition, it prohibits manufacturers from using contractual clauses and software and hardware techniques that prevent repairs".
Next steps
Once the Directive has been adopted by the Council and Parliament and published in the Official Journal of the EU, Member States will have 24 months to transpose it into national law.
Background
The agreement on the right to repair represents a significant step in the EU's efforts to extend the life of products, reduce waste and promote a more sustainable and circular economy. It complements other new EU rules on eco-design and on empowering consumers in the transition to a green economy.
Europal.europa.eu/gnews.cz-RoZ_07
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