Filenews 26 July 2024
An EU directive will make it easier for consumers to choose to have their goods repaired instead of replaced, with an obligation for manufacturers to provide repair services for a certain period of time after the sale.
Green MP Charalambos Theopemptou says that this is Directive (EU) 2024/1799, which was adopted on 13 June 2024 (by the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union) and which provides:
Expansion of consumer rights, availability of spare parts, support of small and medium-sized enterprises, information to buyers, economic benefit, improved information, reduction of waste, reduction of CO2 emissions and saving resources.
The directive, also known as the "right to repair", covers the following:
• Washing machines and dishwashers
• All kinds of refrigerators
• Electronic signs
• Welding machines
• Vacuum cleaners
• Computers, servers and external drives
• Telephones and mobile phones
• Tablet computers
• All kinds of products containing batteries for micromobility such as e-bikes and e-scooters.
More specifically, the Directive covers:
Extension of Consumer Rights:
Consumers will be better able to choose repair of their goods over replacement, with an obligation for manufacturers to provide repair services for a certain period of time after the sale.
Spare Parts Availability:
Manufacturers and importers must ensure that spare parts and repair instructions are available for at least ten years after the product has been placed on the market.
Support for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs)
It is planned to establish cooperation networks between manufacturers, importers and repairers to facilitate repair and enhance the competitiveness of SMEs.
Consumer Information:
An obligation is introduced to provide clear information on the reparability of products, through labels and online platforms.
Economic benefit:
The possibility of repairing goods extends the life of products, thereby reducing the need for new purchases and therefore saving money.
Improved Information:
Consumers will have access to more information about reparability and spare parts availability before purchasing the product to enable them to make more informed decisions.
The promotion of the repair of goods is expected to contribute significantly to the protection of the environment since it will result in:
Waste Reduction:
Repairing goods instead of replacing them reduces the volume of waste and the need to manage it.
Savings:
Extending the lifetime of products reduces the consumption of raw materials and energy required to produce new products.
Reduction of CO2 emissions:
As Mr. Theopemptou explains, citing the Directive, reducing the production of new products and waste management leads to a reduction in carbon dioxide emissions, contributing to the fight against climate change.
Businesses need to adapt their processes to comply with new requirements, such as the provision of spare parts and repair services.
According to Theopemptou, the expected increase in demand for repair services creates new opportunities for growth, new jobs and a diversification of businesses, especially for small companies.
He also stresses that there is a clear reference in the Directive that member states cannot "relax" it during its transposition into national law, which must take place before 26/07/2026.
