At the plenary session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg, the legislation was approved, according to which manufacturers and service providers must repair defective products instead of replacing them, MTI reported.
The legislation adopted with 584 votes in favor, 3 against and 14 abstentions strengthens the right of consumers to repair, clarifies the manufacturer’s obligations related to repair, and encourages consumers to extend the life of the products they buy by repairing or having them repaired instead of replacement.
According to the new rule, manufacturers must ensure that defective products are repaired in a timely manner and at an affordable price, as well as inform consumers of their right to repair. Products repaired within the warranty period will be extended by an additional year, thus encouraging consumers not to opt for replacement.
According to EU law, 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 of these goods may expand over time. During the repair, consumers may request a replacement device. And if a particular article cannot be repaired, a refurbished device must first be offered instead.
Consumers will be able to compare, on the basis of European repair information, the price, time and under what conditions each service provider undertakes the repair according to the nature of the failure. A European online platform will be created where consumers can find local repair shops broken down by country, shops selling refurbished items and buying defective products, as well as community repair initiatives.
According to a statement from the EU Parliament, the purpose of the rule is to strengthen the EU repair market and reduce repair costs. Manufacturers must provide spare parts and tools for repair. They cannot use contractual clauses or hardware and software techniques that prevent repair, especially when it comes to the use of used or 3D-printed spare parts provided by independent repairers. Furthermore, they cannot refuse the repair solely on the grounds that it is not economically worth it, or because someone else previously repaired the given product.
In order to reduce costs, each of the member states must introduce at least one type of incentive to promote repair: they can provide repair vouchers and financial resources, launch awareness campaigns and courses, and support the operation of community spaces dealing with repair.
The legislation must also be approved by the Council of the European Union. After its subsequent publication, member states will have 24 months to transpose the rules.
Tags: Repair replacement important decision European Parliament
