New EU rules to encourage the repair of defective products

A new EU directive to promote the repair of goods entered into force yesterday. The new rules promote more sustainable consumption by making it easier to repair faulty products and encouraging consumers to repair defective products instead of replacing them. The Directive will benefit consumers by avoiding the costs of buying new products and reducing waste, resource use and greenhouse gas emissions. Member States now have until 31 July 2026 to transpose the Directive into national law.

Didier Reynders, Commissioner for Justice, said: ‘With the European Green Pact we set out to make Europe the world’s first climate-neutral continent. The new rules will make redress a reality and will no longer be limited only to the duration of the legal guarantee period. This will also contribute to the development of the whole ecosystem of repair, re-use and refurbishment.’

Under the new rule, manufacturers of certain products, such as refrigerators or smartphones, are obliged to offer consumers repair services at reasonable prices and within reasonable timeframes. In order to strengthen the European repair market, the new rules require these manufacturers to offer replacement parts at a reasonable price and prohibit them from refusing to repair or engaging in practices that prevent repair. To make attractive repair solutions available to consumers, a European repair platform will be set up to help them easily find repairers. The Directive also gives consumers a new right to a one-year extension of the legal warranty if they choose to repair a defective product instead of exchanging it for a new one.

Source: European Commission Representation in Spain