Today, the European Internal Market Committee adopted its position on new measures to strengthen the right to repair and promote sustainable consumption. With the aim to promote a new repair culture, these measures are set to boost repairs during and beyond a product’s legal guarantee period. This right to repair proposal is in line with the EU sustainability goals and initiatives, including the European Green Deal and Ecodesign regulations to empower consumers for the green transition.
The proposal includes the following measures:
- Beyond the legal guarantee: Producers would have to offer mandatory repairs for a wide range of products (household washing machines, vacuum cleaners, smartphones, bicycles), even beyond legal guarantees, within a reasonable time frame and offer replacement or refurbished devices as needed.
- Transparent and competitive repair market: To increase competition and decrease repair costs, independent repairers, refurbishers and end-users should get access to all spare parts, information, and tools at a reasonable cost throughout the lifespan of a product.
- Information on repair services and conditions: National online platforms would help consumers to find local repairers such as repair cafés and sellers of refurbished goods. Consumers would be provided with device-specific repair conditions including details on the repairer, the maximum price and time needed, in order to compare different offers and make the best decision.
René Repasi, Member of the European Parliament, noted: "Today we established direct repair obligations for producers and introduce new incentives for consumers to choose repair. We strengthened the role of independent repairers and place them at the centre of improving repair in Europe. Through better access to relevant technical repair information and affordable spare parts for repairers, including promoting 3D printing for parts, more competition will drive down repair costs. We coupled this with an obligation on member states to establish financial incentives to kick-start the repair sector."
Source: EP
More information