BRUSELAS, 2 Feb. (EUROPA PRESS) –
Negotiators from the European Parliament and the Twenty-Seven have agreed to strengthen consumer protection rules establishing the “right to repair” to ensure that, when devices such as televisions, washing machines or mobile phones break down, the customer can demand that the device be repaired instead of its replacement and that when this option is chosen, the warranty of the article is extended by twelve months.
The reform, which still needs the approval of the plenary session of the European Parliament and the Council to be adopted as law, will therefore oblige manufacturers to carry out the necessary repairs “within a reasonable period of time” and, if it is not free, also at a “reasonable price”, with the aim of encouraging the option of repair.
However, the consumer may choose between repair and replacement of defective products within the seller’s liability period included in the warranty. If the consumer opts for repair of the good, the seller’s liability period will be extended by 12 months from the moment the product is brought into compliance, although each country may decide to further extend this one-year extension.
The rule also establishes that consumers who opt for repair will have the right to receive a replacement device on loan while the one they own is being fixed or to choose a refurbished unit as an alternative.
In addition, a European repair information form is created that consumers can request from any repair shop, with the aim of providing transparency on the conditions and price of the repair, and thus making it easier for consumers to compare repair offers. repair. It will be optional for repair shops to have this form but once they offer it the conditions of the form will be binding on them.
There will also be an online repair platform to connect consumers with repair shops and refurbished product sellers in their area. The platform will allow searches by location and quality standards, which will help consumers find attractive offers and increase the visibility of repair shops.
According to data provided by the European Commission, each year 35 million tons of waste, 30 million tons of resources and 261 million tons of greenhouse gas emissions are generated in the European Union despite the fact that a large part of the products that go into the trash are “viable” devices that could be easily repaired and their useful life extended.
