Right-to-Repair Directive

The Right to Repair Directive is a significant piece of legislation adopted by the European Union (EU) to promote sustainability by encouraging the repair and reuse of consumer goods. Officially known as Directive 2024/1799, it was adopted on May 30, 2024, and aims to extend the lifespan of products, reduce waste, and bolster the repair sector.

Key Objectives: 1/ Enhancing Repair Accessibility: The directive mandates that manufacturers provide timely and cost-effective repair services for their products, ensuring consumers can easily access repair options. 2/ Extending Product Lifespan: By facilitating repairs, the directive aims to prolong the life of consumer goods, thereby reducing the need for replacements and minimizing waste. 3/ Consumer Awareness: Manufacturers are required to inform consumers about their rights to repair, promoting a culture of repair over replacement.

Key Provisions: -> Obligation to Repair: Manufacturers must offer repair services for their products, even after the warranty period has expired, unless the repair is factually or legally impossible. -> Extension of Legal Guarantee: Goods repaired under the warranty will benefit from an additional one-year extension of the legal guarantee, further incentivizing consumers to choose repair over replacement. -> Repairability as a Consumer Expectation: The directive includes "repairability" as a factor for assessing the reasonable expectations of consumers under the Sale of Goods Directive, encouraging manufacturers to design products that are easier to repair.

Implementation Timeline: Adoption Date: The directive was adopted on May 30, 2024. Transposition into National Law: Member states have 24 months to incorporate the directive into their national laws, with compliance expected by the second half of 2026.

🔗 EP, EC