On May 30, 2024, the Council officially adopted the directive on the right to repair, establishing common rules to promote the repair of unusable or defective goods.
The directive aims to make repair more attractive for consumers through several tools and incentives:
European Repair Platform: An online platform will be created to help consumers easily find repair services.
Extension of the Legal Warranty: If consumers choose repair instead of replacement, the legal warranty will be extended by 12 months.
New Obligations for Manufacturers
Mandatory Repair: Manufacturers will be required to repair technically repairable products according to EU standards, upon consumer request. This applies to goods for which repairability requirements are already established by EU legislation.
Repair Conditions: The repair must be carried out free of charge or at a reasonable cost, within a reasonable timeframe. If repair is impossible, a refurbished product may be offered.
Voluntary Repair Form: Manufacturers must provide a form with clear information on the repair process, including timelines and prices.
Implementation
The directive will come into force 20 days after its publication in the Official Journal of the EU.
Member States will have 24 months after its entry into force to transpose the directive into national law.
Once transposed, Belgian manufacturers will have to comply with the new obligations regarding product repairability.
