On Thursday, Parliament and Council reached a political agreement on a stronger “right to repair” for consumers. The agreed rules clarify the obligations for manufacturers and encourage consumers to extend a product’s lifecycle through repair.

Beyond the legal guarantee

Consumers will benefit from new rights that make repairs more appealing and straightforward after the legal guarantee has expired. Key measures of the agreement include:

• an obligation for the manufacturer to repair common household products like washing machines, vacuum cleaners, and even smartphones, with the possibility to add more products to the list over time;
• a requirement for consumers to be informed about a manufacturer’s duty to repair;
• options for consumers to borrow a device whilst their own is being repaired or opt for a refurbished unit as an alternative;
• free online access to indicative repair prices;
• an additional one-year extension of the legal guarantee for repaired goods.

Revitalising the…