EU parliament approves 'right to repair' phones, tablets and more

The European Parliament on Tuesday approved a new law establishing consumers' right to repair certain products including smartphones, tablets, washing machines, vacuum cleaners, fridges and monitors.

The law, which still needs final approval from European Union member states, would require manufacturers to repair goods out of warranty wherever possible, either for free or for a "reasonable price."

If manufacturers produce spare parts - and in many cases they will be obliged to by separate laws - then they will have to make these available for purchase by third-party repairers, also for a "reasonable price."

The new rules are intended to help consumers save money and to cut waste, by making it easier to use products for longer and to replace them less often.

EU law already requires manufacturers to repair or replace faulty goods for free within a two-year warranty.

The provisions approved on Tuesday would extend by one year the warranty of any product repaired in this way.

They would also require manufacturers to inform consumers of their right to choose repair over replacement when returning a product under warranty.

But the more significant changes concern out-of-warranty repairs: for example where products were bought more than two years ago, or when they're damaged accidentally after purchase.

Manufacturers would be obliged to offer an out-of-warranty repair service, either for free or for a "reasonable price," the legislation says. Repairs would also have to be done "within a reasonable time frame."

Manufacturers would not have to repair goods "where repair is impossible."

If manufacturers produce spare parts, they would be obliged to make them available for purchase by third-party repairers, again for a "reasonable price."

In many cases, separate "eco-design" rules for particular goods require manufacturers to produce and sell spare parts for a certain period of time after putting a product on the market.

For example, the "eco-design" rules for phones and tablets require that, from June 2025 onwards, manufacturers make certain components available for repairers to buy for up to seven years after a product is released. These components include batteries, cameras, charging ports, microphones and speakers, among others.

On Tuesday, the parliament also updated the regulation underpinning such rules, which are written by the European Commission on the basis of that law.

The full list of products covered by the "right to repair" law includes several household electronics and appliances as well as other "goods incorporating light means of transport batteries," such as e-bikes and e-scooters.

The law allows the commission to add to the list. It also requires the commission to set up an online platform that consumers can use to find repairers, sellers of refurbished goods, and purchasers of defective goods for refurbishment.

Where a manufacturer is based outside the EU and doesn't have an official representative in the bloc, its responsibilities under the "right to repair" law will fall either to the importer or the distributor.

The legal text approved by the parliament on Tuesday is the product of negotiations between representatives of the parliament and the EU's member states, which agreed a common position in February.

The European Commission proposed the first draft of the legislation in March 2023.

The member states, which were represented by Belgium in the final round of talks with the parliament, still have to approve the text before it can become law.

A total of 584 EU lawmakers voted in favour of the law on Tuesday. Just three voted against and 14 abstained.