EU supports the Right-to-Repair movement with new rules

Great news for all supporters of the Right-to-Repair movement. Soon, new rules will positively impact the repair industry, reduction of e-waste and economics. The European Commission recently proposed uniform rules to promote repairing goods, with the aim of benefitting consumers and significantly reducing e-waste. However, the European Parliament and Council must still make a final decision on the proposal, though approval is expected.

Implementing the new rules will help reduce e-waste by preventing the early disposal of easily repairable electronics, which results in 35 million tons of waste each year. By conserving 30 million tons of resources, such as energy, water, and rare metals, the measure will also reduce CO2 emissions by 261 million tons annually, resulting in savings of 12 billion euros for EU citizens each year. Additionally, this measure promotes economic growth by increasing demand for repairs, resulting in a 4.8 billion euro increase in the turnover of European repair companies each year. 

So, what does the EU propose?

During the legal warranty period, sellers must offer repairs, unless a replacement is less costly. Outside the legal warranty period, consumers will have new rights and tools to make repair a simple and accessible option. These include the right to demand repair for technically repairable products, information from producers about which products can be repaired, an online repair platform to connect consumers with repairers and sellers of repaired goods, a European repair information form to make repair conditions and prices transparent, and a European quality standard for repair services to help consumers find quality repairers.

We at QC Centre are a big proponent of repairing appliances and providing qualified good parts, whether new, pulled, or refurbished. With the development of a European quality standard for repair services, we can help you provide the quality parts you need, saving you time and hassle. Ultimately, consumers should be able to make their own choice about which one to buy based on quality, reliability, and durability.