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 electronic waste, and support the circular economy as part of the European Green Deal’s sustainable consumption goals3. The directive introduces new rights and obligations for consumers, manufacturers, and repair service providers, complementing existing EU initiatives on ecodesign and consumer protection

    The Directive was formally adopted on June 13, 2024, and entered into force by July 30, 2024.

  • Key provisions

    Manufacturer repair obligations: Producers must offer repair services for specific household and electronic items even after the legal guarantee expires, ensuring repairs are done promptly and affordably, either directly or through authorized third parties. For non-EU products, the EU representative or importer holds this responsibility.

    Access to parts and repair info: Manufacturers are required to supply spare parts and repair manuals at reasonable prices, including for discontinued models. They cannot use design or contractual restrictions to block independent repairs or the use of compatible aftermarket parts, except for valid safety or IP reasons. Consumers must be informed about repair rights and prices online.

    Consumer repair rights beyond warranty: Consumers can request repairs at fair prices after the standard legal guarantee ends, reinforcing the right to repair without removing existing warranty remedies during the guarantee period. Repair is encouraged but replacement remains an option within warranty.

    European Repair Information Form: Repair shops may provide a standardized form detailing repair costs, timelines, and conditions, which binds the repairer to those terms for 30 days. This improves cost transparency and supports consumer decision-making.

    Unified online repair platform: By 2027, a single EU-wide portal will connect consumers to local and cross-border repair services, second-hand goods, and community repair initiatives, simplifying access to repair options across member states.

    Extended warranty after repairs: Repairing a product during its two-year legal guarantee extends the warranty by an additional 12 months, ensuring consumers have continued protection on repaired items and encouraging repair over replacement. Non-repairable products may be considered defective by design.

    Temporary replacements and refurbished units: Manufacturers are encouraged to offer loaner devices if repairs take too long and may provide refurbished alternatives if repairs are impossible, reducing consumer inconvenience during downtime.

    National repair promotion measures: Each EU country must implement at least one initiative to foster repair culture, such as repair vouchers, awareness campaigns, training, or tax incentives, making repairs more affordable and accessible.

  • The Right to Repair Directive applies to products already subject to reparability requirements under EU law (listed in Annex II of Directive (EU) 2024/1799). These include:

    • Household washing machines and washer-dryers – Laundry appliances for domestic use, including combination washer-dryers.

    • Household dishwashers – Automatic dishwashing machines for domestic use.

    • Household refrigerating appliances – Refrigerators, freezers, and similar cooling appliances for domestic use.

    • Electronic displays – This covers televisions, computer monitors, and other electronic display screens.

    • Welding equipment – Electrical welding machines and equipment covered by EU Ecodesign requirements.

    • Vacuum cleaners – Household vacuum cleaning devices (as regulated under EU Ecodesign rules).

    • Servers and data storage products – Enterprise-type IT equipment (servers, network storage) that has reparability provisions under Ecodesign.

    • Mobile phones and tablets – This includes smartphones, other mobile phones (e.g. feature phones or cordless phones), and slate tablets.

    • Household tumble dryers – Clothes dryers for domestic use (added via a 2023 Ecodesign measure).

    • Goods with light means of transport batteries – Products that incorporate “light means of transport” batteries, such as e-bikes and e-scooters, which now have EU battery-design requirements for removability.

    These represent the initial set of goods for which manufacturers will be obliged to offer repair services on reasonable terms beyond the legal warranty period. They are largely appliances and electronics already subject to EU reparability requirements. For example, washing machines, dishwashers, refrigerators, and TVs have specific Ecodesign standards mandating long-term spare parts availability and ease of disassembly. Newer regulations now impose similar requirements on smartphones and tablets (as of 2023), and the EU’s recent Battery Regulation ensures that batteries in e-bikes and similar devices are replaceable rather than sealed-for-life

    • July 30, 2024 : Entered into force; the Directive becomes legally binding across the EU

    • July 31, 2026 : Deadline for National Transposition; Member States must implement the directive into national law by this date

    • Between 2024 and 2026, EU countries will draft and pass national laws to align with the directive.

    • From 31 July 2026, consumers will be able to invoke their right to repair for covered products (e.g. smartphones, washing machines) under national rules.

    • The European Commission will begin updating the list of covered products (Annex II) via delegated acts as new reparability standards are adopted.