Instead of replacement, the EU supports the repair of broken devices

On Tuesday, the European Parliament (EP) voted on the proposal for a directive on the right to repair. According to the board’s statement, the rules clarify the manufacturer’s obligations related to repair and encourage the prolongation of the life of products by repair instead of replacement.

Manufacturers must arrange for the repair of defective products in a timely manner and at an affordable price, and provide information about our right to repair. For products repaired within the warranty period, the warranty is extended by an additional year, encouraging us not to choose the replacement.

Manufacturers will be obliged to repair certain commonly used household appliances beyond the warranty period, if they are still in repairable condition, such as washing machines, vacuum cleaners, and even smartphones. (The list may expand over time.) It will be possible to request a replacement device for the duration of the repair, and if a specific item cannot be repaired, a refurbished one should be offered instead.

Based on European repair information, we will be able to compare, according to the nature of the failure, at what price, for how long and under what conditions each service provider undertakes the repair. A European online platform will be created where, broken down by country, we will be able to find local repair shops, shops selling refurbished items and buying defective products, as well as community repair initiatives (e.g. community repair shops).

Manufacturers must provide spare parts and tools for repair at a fair price. They cannot hinder the repair with contractual clauses or hardware and software techniques – especially not when it comes to the use of used or 3D-printed spare parts from independent repairers. They cannot refuse the repair just on the grounds that it is not economically worth it or because someone else has previously repaired the given product.

To reduce costs, all member states should introduce at least one type of incentive to promote repair. For example, they can provide repair vouchers and financial resources, launch awareness campaigns and courses or support the operation of community spaces dealing with repairs.

Only three people in the EP said no to the text, 14 abstained, and 584 supported it. According to the results, the Hungarian representatives present, with one exception, all voted yes. It is possible that Ádám Kósa from Fidesz was also present at the last meeting before the EP elections in June in the large voting plant, although he did not indicate this in Tuesday’s minutes.

Back in February, the board concluded a preliminary agreement with the other legislator, the Council of Ministers, after which voting is usually just a formality. The final version of the directive must be approved even by the Council, after which it can be published in the EU gazette. The member states will also have to transpose the rules into their national law, and they will have two years to do so.