Strasbourg, 22 April 2024
The European Conservatives and Reformists Group has welcomed a draft proposal for a new EU-wide ‘right to repair’ to help reduce waste and prolong the life of consumer goods and household appliances. Customers whose devices break down after the warranty period will be able to choose to have them repaired instead of throwing them away. Consumers who opt for repair will receive a 12-month guarantee.
“Currently, when household appliances break down, they are often simply thrown away after replacement because the spare parts are too expensive or unavailable. In the future, it will be more attractive to repair things like washing machines, dishwashers, fridges, vacuum cleaners and electronic displays,” said ECR shadow rapporteur Beata Mazurek during the debate in Strasbourg ahead of Tuesday’s vote.
In committee, the ECR had insisted on as little red tape as possible and negotiated into the law that the ‘repair form’ should be a voluntary measure for sellers. It was equally important to the Conservatives that repairs could be carried out by independent garages and service providers to ensure that the increased demand for repair is met by adequate supply of services.
“We have come up with a scheme that offers the maximum benefit to consumers and the minimum burden to businesses,” said Mazurek.
Source – ECR (via e-mail)