EU Mandates Right to Repair for Household Appliances from July 2026

From 31 July 2026 the European Union will enforce a “right to repair” rule covering a wide range of household and personal devices. Consumers in all member states, including Poland, will be able to demand that manufacturers or authorized distributors repair products at a reasonable price and within a reasonable time, rather than being forced to buy a new model.

The regulation applies to appliances such as washing machines, tumble‑dryers, dishwashers, refrigerators, vacuum cleaners, TVs, monitors, smartphones, tablets and laptops that already meet EU ecodesign reparability criteria. If a repair is chosen during the warranty period, the warranty is extended by an additional 12 months. Penalties for non‑compliance can reach up to 20 000 PLN, rising to 40 000 PLN for repeat offences.

The European Commission will also launch an online repair platform by 2027 to help consumers locate certified repair services. The measure aims to curb the roughly 35 million tonnes of waste generated each year by premature disposal of repairable goods and to save consumers an estimated €12 billion annually.