A new EU directive has been approved that guarantees the right to repair electronics. This is great news for consumers who often face expensive repairs or replacements when a small fault occurs in their devices. The Right to Repair Directive sets goals for member states to implement, with the main requirement being that manufacturers must offer consumers the opportunity to repair products at a reasonable price during the warranty period and afterwards if repair is still feasible.
The directive aims to extend the life of products, thereby saving the environment. It applies not only to smartphones but also to other expensive devices like tablets, monitors, servers, refrigeration equipment, vacuum cleaners and more. The EU Council must officially approve the directive, after which member countries have two years to implement it.
The directive also impacts product design by requiring parts to be removable and replaceable with spare parts and instructions readily available. Manufacturers are prohibited from making it artificially difficult to repair devices. This has pleased companies like Swappie, who believe that easier repairs will help in getting more smartphones into circulation.
In addition, the directive addresses issues with smartphone manufacturers like Apple, who often control how repairs can be done on their devices. The law prohibits manufacturers from imposing contractual clauses, hardware solutions or software techniques that prevent repairs. The EU Commission is working towards a circular economy with the eco-design regulation passed alongside the Right to Repair Directive.
Professor Eva Heiskanen believes that small mechanical defects that occur during normal use should be repairable and suggests political support such as repair vouchers to stimulate demand for repair services and level the playing field for repair opportunities. Overall, the Right to Repair Directive is seen as a step in the right direction towards a more sustainable future for electronics repairability and consumer rights protection.
