Repairing your smartphone will be easy! European Union imposes new rules

The European Union has been trying to change the rules in a wide range of areas, especially those dedicated to smartphones. The most impactful measures are already being applied, but now a new one has been approved. It will soon be much easier to repair a smartphone, in light of the new rules that the European Union will impose on manufacturers.

This week, Parliament approved, by 584 votes in favour, three votes against and 14 abstentions, the directive relating to the so-called “right to redress” for consumers. These new rules clarify manufacturers' obligations to repair goods and encourage consumers to extend the life cycle of a product through repair.

Obligation to repair

The new rules ensure that manufacturers provide timely and economically viable repair services and inform consumers of their rights to repair. Goods repaired under warranty will benefit from an additional one-year extension of the legal warranty, further encouraging consumers to opt for repair rather than replacement.

After the legal warranty expires, the manufacturer remains obliged to repair common household products, which are technically repairable under European Union (EU) legislation, such as washing machines, vacuum cleaners and even smartphones.

The list of product categories may be expanded over time. Consumers can also borrow a device while theirs is being repaired. If it cannot be repaired, a refurbished product may be provided.

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Information about conditions and repair services

A European information form may be made available to consumers to help them evaluate and compare repair services (specifying the nature of the defect, the price and duration of the repair).

To facilitate the repair process, a European digital platform with national sections will be created to help consumers easily find local repair shops, sellers of refurbished goods, buyers of defective items or community-based repair initiatives such as " repair cafes”.

Revitalize the repair market

The rules aim to strengthen the EU repair market and reduce repair costs for consumers. Manufacturers will have to provide spare parts and tools at a reasonable price and will be prohibited from using contractual clauses, hardware or software techniques that prevent repair.

In particular, they may not prevent the use of second-hand or 3D-printed spare parts by independent repairers, nor refuse to repair a product solely for economic reasons or because it has previously been repaired by someone else.

Promote repair at affordable prices

In order to make repairs more accessible, each Member State will have to implement at least one measure to promote repair, such as vouchers and repair funds, carry out information campaigns, offer repair courses or support grassroots repair spaces community.

Once the directive is formally approved by the Council and published in the EU Official Journal, Member States will have 24 months to transpose it into national law.

The Right to Repair Directive is a significant step in the EU's efforts to extend the life of products, limit waste and support a more sustainable and circular economy. It complements other new EU rules on ecodesign and empowering consumers for the green transition.