Smartphones, televisions, household appliances… MEPs adopt a “right to repair”

The European Union is accelerating the fight against overconsumption. MEPs voted on Tuesday for new rules aimed at encouraging consumers to repair defective smartphones or household appliances, rather than throwing them away and buying new ones. The text, adopted by a very large majority, establishes a “right to repair”. Even after the warranty expires, citizens of the single market will be able to demand repairs for certain products from manufacturers.

In order to reduce costs and make the repair market more competitive, the regulation provides for the creation of online platforms to centralize repairers and sellers of reconditioned products. It also plans to improve access to spare parts, tools and information needed for repairs. All Member States will need to implement at least one incentive, repair vouchers or learning courses.

Every year in the EU, discarded products, although repairable, represent 35 million tonnes of waste. However, according to a study by the European Commission, 77% of Europeans would prefer to repair their old products rather than buy new ones. They would lose around 12 billion euros per year if they were not repaired.

With this text, the Twenty-Seven wish to strengthen their commitment to “making consumers active in the fight against climate change”, in the words of the text’s rapporteur, German Social Democrat MEP René Repasi. One more step towards achieving the objectives of the “green deal” of carbon neutrality by 2050.