EU right to repair rules strengthened for electronics and appliances

New regulations in France and across the European Union have strengthened the ‘right to repair’ for various consumer electronics and household appliances. Effective as of July 31, these rules aim to combat disposable consumer culture by requiring manufacturers to repair defective products at a reasonable price and within a reasonable timeframe, even after the legal warranty has expired.

Key provisions include a significant extension of the statutory warranty: if a consumer chooses repair over replacement during the initial two-year warranty period, the warranty is now extended by one year, up from the previous six months. If a seller mandates a replacement instead of a repair, the warranty is extended for two years from the date of replacement.

The directive applies to a specific list of ‘technically repairable products’ updated annually by the EU, including smartphones, tablets, televisions, vacuum cleaners, refrigerators, washing machines, and dishwashers. Manufacturers are prohibited from using contractual, material, or software obstacles to prevent repairs by independent professionals. Additionally, companies must provide easy access to repair service contact information and publish indicative prices for common repairs on public websites. These obligations can apply for five to ten years after purchase, depending on the specific product and required parts.