EU consumer right-to-repair rules come into force
These aim to extend product lifecycles and favour repair over new purchases.
The European Commission says the rules that apply from 31 July 2026 will include household and electronic products, such as washing machines, vacuum cleaners, mobile phones and tablets.
It intends to reduce waste and unnecessary resource consumption.
The Commission hopes this will result in savings for consumers, boost the circular economy and support the objectives of sustainable consumption by:
- Providing consumers with the right to request manufacturers repair products that are technically repairable under EU law, which must be done within a reasonable time – unless the service is free – and at a reasonable price.
- Extending the legal guarantee of the product by at least 12 months when the consumer chooses to repair a product rather than replace it within the liability period.
- Requiring manufacturers to provide easily accessible information about repair services, as well as access to spare parts at a reasonable price.
The right-to-repair rules are expected to generate €4.8bln in growth and investment for the EU.
A new online European repair platform, which should become operational in 2027, will allow consumers to find suitable repairers more easily. The platform will reportedly have sections for each EU country.
