EU directive on the right to repair

On 30 May 2024, the Council officially adopted the Right to Repair Directive, which establishes common rules to promote the repair of discarded or defective goods.

The directive aims to make repair more attractive to consumers through a number of tools and incentives:

• European repair platform: An online platform will be set up to help consumers easily find repair services.
• Extended legal warranty: If consumers choose repair instead of replacement, the legal warranty will be extended by 12 months.

Manufacturers will have new obligations:

• Mandatory repair: They will have to repair products that are technically repairable according to EU standards at consumers’ request. This applies to goods for which repair requirements are already set out in EU legislation.
• Repair conditions: the repair must be carried out free of charge or at a reasonable price and within a reasonable time. If repair is impossible, a reconditioned product may be offered.
• Voluntary repair form: Manufacturers must provide a form with clear information on the repair process, including timelines and prices.

The directive has yet to be published in the EU Official Journal and enters into force 20 days after publication. Member states have 24 months after entry into force to transpose the directive into national law.

Once transposed, Belgian producers will have to comply with the new obligations regarding the repairability of products.