According to the wishes of the European Parliament, consumers in the EU should be able to have products repaired more easily in the future. Parliament announced that this should make consumption in Europe more sustainable.
In Strasbourg, MPs voted in favor of a position on the “right to repair”. Accordingly, manufacturers could be obliged to repair certain products even if they are no longer covered by the legal warranty.
Even during the warranty period, sellers could only avoid a repair if it would be more expensive than a new purchase, not possible or unfavorable for the consumer. In addition, according to the proposal, the legal warranty should be extended by one year if a product has been repaired.
Repairs have often been too expensive or difficult
“People want to extend the life of their devices, but this is often too expensive or difficult,” said René Repasi, spokesperson for the European SPD on consumer protection. Particular attention is paid to supporting independent workshops and financial incentives.
The basis for the new rules is a proposal from the European Commission from March. According to the Brussels government, consumers not only lose a lot of money if they opt for replacement instead of repair. In addition, prematurely discarding products that are still usable causes high greenhouse gas emissions and more than 30 million tons of waste every year.
Parliament and the EU countries also involved in the legislation must now negotiate the final requirements together.
Source: Krone
I’m Ben Stock, a journalist and author at Today Times Live. I specialize in economic news and have been working in the news industry for over five years. My experience spans from local journalism to international business reporting. In my career I’ve had the opportunity to interview some of the world’s leading economists and financial experts, giving me an insight into global trends that is unique among journalists.
