Manufacturers of electronic goods, including televisions, vacuum cleaners, smartphones, and tablets, may be compelled to provide access to parts and services for up to 10 years after the initial purchase.
On Wednesday, Mar. 22, the European Commission stated that it has adopted a proposal that, if approved by the European Parliament and Council, would impose mandatory long-term maintenance obligations on manufacturers of consumer devices.
10 years of maintenance?
Devices such as vacuum cleaners, washer-dryers, welding tools, computer servers, and data-storage devices would all fall within the purview of the legislation if it were implemented in the European Union (EU). According to Ars Technica, right-to-repair guidelines for mobile devices are now being discussed and negotiated at the Union's level.
Within two years of purchase, the EU already mandates that manufacturers either fix or replace faulty devices at no cost to the consumer. Companies would be required under the new rule to repair products at no cost to the customer if doing so would be as inexpensive as replacing them.
Furthermore, the proposed law mandates that, depending on the item, suppliers provide repair services for a minimum of five to 10 years after the initial purchase.
For example, television manufacturers would be on the hook for servicing their products for a minimum of seven years after purchase. The EU is now debating a plan that would mandate smartphone and tablet manufacturers provide repairs for up to five years.
In a frequently asked questions (FAQ) page, the commission clarified that if a repair is "technically impossible," such as in the case of a hardware failure, suppliers would not be required to complete the repair within the specified time range.
The commission projects that this law will prevent 18.5 million tons of greenhouse gas emissions, 1.8 million tons of materials, and 3 million tons of trash over the course of 15 years. While "sellers and producers" would save roughly 15.6 billion euros (about $16.3 billion), EU consumers would save 176.5 billion euro (around $192.3 billion) if the commission's proposals were put into effect.
Fixing Rather Than Replacing
The idea reportedly aims to strengthen the repair industry, which the EU said will add jobs if it succeeds. However, a revised estimate of employment levels was not provided.
In a statement released on Wednesday, the commission said: "Over the last decades, replacement has often been prioritized over repair whenever products become defective, and insufficient incentives have been given to consumers to repair their goods when the legal guarantee expires."
The initiative would make it more practical and affordable for people to fix things rather than buy new ones.
The plan also calls for EU member states to create an "online matchmaking repair platform to connect consumers with repairers and sellers of refurbished goods in their area." It also mandates firms be transparent with their repair services, including disclosing estimated costs and turnaround times for repairs upon request.
