Broken electrical appliances: right to repair of electronic appliances in the EU

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A so-called right to repair for consumers should be introduced at EU level. Negotiators from the European Parliament and EU countries agreed on Friday evening that manufacturers of certain products, such as refrigerators, vacuum cleaners and mobile phones, will in future have to repair them on request. This was announced by the Belgian Presidency of the Council and the European Parliament negotiator, René Repasi (SPD).

For the first time, a legal right to repair of so-called white goods – which mainly includes household appliances – and typical everyday products such as smartphones will be introduced, Repasi said.

35 million tons of waste every year

In the future it will be easier and cheaper to have products repaired instead of buying them new. “We can no longer afford to live in a throwaway society,” says Repasi. European consumers produce 35 million tons of waste every year because products are not repaired and replaced with new goods.

However, the new requirements do not apply to all products. According to the information, some goods such as headphones and furniture are excluded. A precise legal text is usually published a few weeks after negotiators have reached an agreement. Parliament and EU countries still have to agree to the compromise. In most cases this is just a formality.

The chair of the EU Parliament’s Internal Market Committee, Anna Cavazzini, described the negotiation outcome as a breakthrough in consumer protection. “Repairs will become easier and more affordable by ensuring access to spare parts at a reasonable price and to repair instructions from the manufacturers, even for small repair shops around the corner and tinkerers in their garages,” said the Green politician.

New rules serve to protect the environment

The agreement is based on a proposal that the European Commission presented almost a year ago. According to its own information, the EU Parliament has been advocating for the right to repair for more than ten years. In April 2022, Parliament stepped up the pressure and voted by a large majority to ensure that products are designed to last longer, can be repaired safely and that parts are easily accessible and removable.

In addition to consumers, the new rules are also intended to protect the environment. When presenting the project, the Commission argued that fewer discarded products would mean both less waste and less resource use in production.

This would also result in fewer greenhouse gas emissions. Based on its proposal, the Commission estimated that 18.5 million tons of greenhouse gas emissions, 1.8 million tons of resources and 3 million tons of waste would be saved over 15 years.

(SDA)

Source:Blick