Green light to “right to repair”, but what is it? The European Parliament has definitively adopted, with a majority of 584 votes in favour, 3 against and 14 abstentions, the directive on the “right to repair”, which explains the obligations of producers regarding the repair of goods. We had already talked about the measure when it was still just a hypothesis. This innovation has the aim of encouraging consumers to make products last longer by adjusting them from a sustainable perspective. Here’s how it works.
The news
Manufacturers of consumer goods will be required to guarantee fast and economical repair services and inform consumers of their rights to repairs. Goods subject to legal guarantee will enjoy an extension of an additional year, and even after the expiry of the same, manufacturers will be obliged to provide assistance for the most common household goods which are technically repairable according to European Union regulations, such as washing machines, vacuum cleaners and smartphones. The European Parliament has specified that other product categories could be included subsequently. Furthermore, consumers will be able to obtain a loan device during the repair or opt for a refurbished appliance. This is interesting news if we consider that European citizens lose an amount equal to 12 billion euros every year to replace products and devices instead of repairing them. This is confirmed by data from the European Commission.
The goods included in the measure
As for “consumer goods” defined in EU Directive 771 of 2019, “any tangible movable property” and “any tangible movable property that incorporates or is interconnected with digital content or a digital service” are subject to the right to repair. This includes in the category all electronic devices and household appliances such as washing machines, dishwashers, televisions, smartphones a more sustainable economy in environmental terms, producers and suppliers of consumer goods will have to clearly provide all the information in order to adjust the product that encounters problems due to faults. Everything must have a “reasonable cost”.
Costs and guarantees
As for costs, these must be “reasonable” and declared at the time of delivery of the device; if the exact cost cannot be determined, a maximum estimate must be indicated. As far as timing is concerned, the good must be repaired returned within 30 days. Furthermore, if the consumer opts for the repairyou will be entitled to an extra year of warranty on the product.
The timings
The European Commission will introduce a online platform to easily locate the repair centers and sellers of used products closest to citizens. Each member state will then have to create its own local site to facilitate the process. An optional form will also be available to help initiate repairs and help consumers evaluate the different options available. Furthermore, the use of non-original spare parts will be permitted and it will no longer be possible to prohibit their use. Producers won’t be able to refuse further repairs on devices that have been modified by third parties. This measure highlights the importance of refurbished products as an alternative to new ones in the event that they are impossible to repair. The directive will come into force after the Council of the European Union formally adopts it, and member states will have 24 months to transpose it into their national legislation. The legislation is seen as a step forward, but draws criticism for the vague definition of “reasonable price” for the exclusion of industrial and business products.
All that remains is to wait for a possible clarification from the EU.
