Europe has finally taken a decisive step towards sustainability and the circular economy with the new provisional agreement on the directive right to repair. In October the EU itself she had already spoken but now there is a real agreement, albeit provisional. This legislation represents a turning point for consumers and producers, promoting the repair of faulty or defective goods and offering a new life to the products. Good for your pockets and for the environment.
The key points of the provisional agreement on the right to repair
Council and European Parliament reached a provisional agreement on the directive encouraging the repair of damaged or defective goods, also known as Right to Repair Directive. This legislation aims to make the choice of repair over replacement simpler, faster, more transparent and more attractive for consumers.
Specifically, there are 4 new features of the agreement on the right to repair:
- the possibility for consumers to require manufacturers to repair technically repairable products according to EU law (for example, washing machines, vacuum cleaners or mobile phones);
- un European repair information form that repairers can offer to consumers, with clear information such as repair conditions, times to complete the work, prices, replacement products, etc. (the directive includes a template of this form as “Annex 1");
- a European Online Platform for repairs to facilitate meetings between consumers and repairers;
- a12 month extension of the liability period of the seller after repairing a product
Alexia Bertrand, Belgian State Secretary for Budget and Consumer Protection, underlines the importance of this directive: it encourages the repair of defective goods, giving them a new life and creating quality jobs, reducing waste, limiting dependence on foreign raw materials and protecting the environment.
The directive aims to encourage consumers to Extend the life of your products by having them repaired, which in turn will boost the repair sector, reduce waste and promote more sustainable business models.
A very important thing, in my opinion, is that the agreement was reached maintains the consumer's right to choose between repair and replacement when a product is broken or defective and introduces some improvements regarding the scope of application, the repair obligation and the content of the information form.
Furthermore, the Manufacturers are obliged to provide information on spare parts on their website, make them available to all operators in the repair industry at a reasonable price and prohibit practices that prevent the use of second-hand or 3D printed replacement parts by independent repairers.
