Buy, use and throw away? Soon this will not be the destination of many products in the European Union. This Tuesday, the European Parliament approved with an overwhelming majority of 584 votes in favor the new law that enshrines consumers' right to repair beyond the time established in the guarantee.
The new standard ensures that manufacturers provide cost-effective repair services and inform consumers of their right, and not have to pay for a new product. Until now, in many cases the repair is so expensive or so difficult that many users found it cheaper to buy a new product.
With the new rules, the legal guarantee may be extended by one more year than the current one, with the aim of encouraging consumers to choose a repair rather than a purchase. Once this warranty has expired, the manufacturer will be obliged to repair products such as washing machines, vacuum cleaners and even smartphones. A list that can be expanded in the future. Additionally, consumers will be able to order replacement devices while their products are being repaired.
To facilitate repairs, an online platform will be created to put consumers in contact with repair shops based on their place of residence and that have high quality standards, for which a European quality standard of these will be developed. repair services—and with enough variety to allow freedom of choice
The regulation aims to strengthen the repair market in the EU and reduce costs for consumers. Manufacturers will have to make spare parts and tools available to them at a reasonable price and will be prohibited from using contractual clauses and techniques related to equipment or computer programs that prevent the repair of goods. Specifically, they may not prevent the use of second-hand spare parts, nor refuse to repair a product solely for economic reasons or because it was previously repaired by third parties.
In order to make repairs more affordable, each Member State will have to implement at least one measure to promote repair, such as vouchers and repair funds, carry out information campaigns, offer repair courses or support community repair spaces.
“Repairing will be easier and cheaper than buying new and expensive items. This is a significant achievement for Parliament,” defended René Repasi, German Social Democratic MEP and negotiator for the European Parliament.
According to the European Commission's calculations, the new rules could significantly reduce the enormous volume of waste products that could actually have been repaired. The result is 35 million tons of waste and 261 million tons of greenhouse gas emissions.
States are expected to give their final approval in the coming days and the new law is expected to come into force in a maximum of two years.
