Right to Repair Directive

  • The Right to Repair Directive (Directive (EU) 2024/1799) establishes common EU rules to promote the repair of consumer goods and discourage premature disposal. It aims to extend product lifespans, reduce waste and support the circular economy as part of the European Green Deal’s sustainable consumption goals.

    The Directive introduces new rights and obligations for consumers, manufacturers and repair service providers. It complements existing EU initiatives on ecodesign, product sustainability and consumer protection, including repairability requirements established under EU product legislation.

    The Directive was formally adopted on 13 June 2024, entered into force on 30 July 2024, and must be transposed into national law by 31 July 2026.

  • Manufacturer repair obligations: Manufacturers must repair certain goods covered by EU repairability requirements when requested by consumers, unless repair is impossible. Repairs must be provided free of charge or at a reasonable price and within a reasonable period of time. Manufacturers may perform the repair themselves or subcontract it. Where the manufacturer is established outside the EU, the obligation falls on the authorised representative, importer or, where there is no importer, the distributor.

    Access to parts and repair information: Manufacturers must make relevant spare parts and tools available at a reasonable price and provide consumers with clear information about their repair services. They may not use contractual, hardware or software techniques to impede repair unless justified by legitimate and objective reasons, including certain intellectual property or safety requirements. Previous repairs carried out by independent repairers or other persons cannot, by themselves, be used as a reason to refuse a repair.

    Consumer repair rights beyond warranty: Consumers can request repair directly from the manufacturer for covered goods, including after the legal guarantee period has expired. The repair must be free or offered at a reasonable price and completed within a reasonable period of time. The Directive complements, rather than replaces, existing consumer guarantee rights.

    European Repair Information Form: Repairers can provide consumers with a standardised European Repair Information Form setting out key information such as the nature of the repair, price, repair arrangements and expected completion time. The form is valid for at least 30 days, giving consumers greater transparency when comparing repair options.

    European online repair platform: The Directive creates a European online platform to help consumers find repairers and, where applicable, sellers of refurbished goods, purchasers of defective goods for refurbishment and community-led repair initiatives. The Commission must develop the common online interface by 31 July 2027, while Member States must ensure their national platforms or sections are operational by that date. The European platform is scheduled to become fully operational by 1 January 2028.

    Extended legal guarantee after repair: Where a consumer chooses repair as the remedy for a lack of conformity during the legal guarantee period, the applicable liability period is extended once by 12 months. Member States may provide longer periods. The seller must inform consumers about the choice between repair and replacement and about the possible extension.

    Temporary replacements and refurbished goods: During a repair, manufacturers may provide consumers with a replacement good free of charge or for a reasonable fee. Where repair is impossible, the manufacturer may offer a refurbished good.

    National repair promotion measures: Each Member State must implement at least one measure to promote repair. Measures may include financial incentives, repair vouchers, awareness campaigns, training or support for repair initiatives.

  • The Right to Repair Directive applies to goods for which repairability requirements are established in EU legislation listed in Annex II of the Directive. The current list includes:

    • Household washing machines and washer-dryers

    • Household dishwashers

    • Refrigerating appliances

    • Electronic displays, including televisions and computer monitors

    • Welding equipment

    • Vacuum cleaners

    • Servers and data storage products

    • Mobile phones, cordless phones and slate tablets

    • Household tumble dryers

    • Goods incorporating light means of transport batteries, such as products using batteries covered by the EU Battery Regulation.

    The manufacturer repair obligation applies to the extent that repairability requirements apply to the relevant goods. This means that the Directive does not create a universal repair obligation for every consumer product. Instead, it builds on existing and future EU product legislation that establishes repairability requirements.

    The European Commission can update Annex II through delegated acts as new EU legislation introduces relevant repairability requirements. The Commission must do so without undue delay and at the latest within 12 months after publication of the relevant EU legal act.

    • 13 June 2024 – Directive adopted
      The European Parliament and Council formally adopted the Right to Repair Directive (EU) 2024/1799.

    • 30 July 2024 – Entry into force
      The Directive entered into force 20 days after its publication in the Official Journal.

    • 31 July 2026 – National transposition and application
      Member States must transpose the Directive into national law by 31 July 2026. The national rules implementing the Directive also start applying from this date. Consumers and businesses will therefore begin to benefit from the new repair rights and obligations under the applicable national legislation.

    • 31 July 2026 – National repair platform arrangements
      Member States must inform the Commission whether they will use a national section of the European repair platform or an existing/new national online repair platform.

    • 31 July 2027 – European repair platform interface
      The Commission must develop the common online interface for the European repair platform by this date. Member States must ensure their national sections or qualifying national platforms are operational by 31 July 2027.

    • 1 January 2028 – European repair platform fully operational
      The European online repair platform is expected to be fully operational by this date.

    • Ongoing – Expansion of Annex II
      The Commission will update Annex II through delegated acts when new EU legislation introduces relevant repairability requirements for additional product categories.

    Why it matters for technology companies

    The Right to Repair Directive is particularly relevant to manufacturers, importers, distributors and repair networks in the technology sector. It increases the importance of repairability, spare-parts availability, repair information, after-sales services and product lifecycle management. It also reinforces the link between product design requirements under the ESPR and downstream consumer rights to repair.