The UK enforces a law that guarantees the 'right to repair', but not for smartphones and laptops
The United Kingdom enforced the 'Right to Repair Act' on July 1, 2021. This law obliges manufacturers to sell spare parts so that repairers can repair on their own, but the problem is that there are few target products, especially high-tech products such as smartphones and notebook PCs. It is widely reported.
What do the new right to repair laws mean for you? – Which? News
British right to repair law goes into effect today but doesn't cover smartphones or computers
https://www.xda-developers.com/british-right-to-repair-law/
British right to repair law excludes smartphones and computers ―― 9to5Mac
https://9to5mac.com/2021/07/01/british-right-to-repair-law/
The UK's new 'Rights to Repair Act' requires manufacturers to sell spare parts so that they can easily and safely replace rubber packings for sealing refrigerators and detergent drawers for washing machines. We require that you continue to sell parts for at least 10 years, and parts for highly specialized repairers such as washing machine motors and heating elements for at least 7 years. According to this law, the British government expects to reduce electronic waste by 1.5 million tons annually.
This law was introduced to prevent the manufacture of products that break down after a certain period of time, and to respond to consumers' desire to use the product for a long time, but 'the number of target products is small'. Is attracting attention. According to Which ?, a non-profit news agency on consumer issues, the law covers consumer products such as 'dishwashers,' 'washing machines and washer-dryers,' 'refrigerators,' 'televisions and others.' Only 4 types of 'electronic display'. That's why Which? Warns that 'high-tech products such as cookers, stoves, tumble dryers, microwave ovens, and laptops and smartphones are not covered.'
In addition, the 'Rights to Repair Law' does not place restrictions on the price of spare parts, and in reality, as the average lifespan of refrigerators is 20 to 25 years, some home appliances are stipulated by the law. Since it is used for well over '10 years', there are voices saying 'I would like you to purchase spare parts at a reasonable price and for a period close to the life of each product.' Moreover, the 'repair' guaranteed by the law is strictly a criterion of 'whether the repairer can carry out', 'whether the consumer can purchase the parts' and 'the consumer can repair'. 'Whether or not' is out of scope, and this is also a source of criticism.
The law provides a grace period from product sales to spare parts sales, and each manufacturer is allowed a two-year grace period from the sale of the product to the provision of replacement parts.
In March 2021, the EU passed the 'Law Mandating Home Appliance Manufacturers to Accept Repairs'. The bill requires manufacturers to accept product repairs for 10 years.
A law has been passed that requires home appliance manufacturers to accept repairs for 10 years --GIGAZINE
Related Posts:
in Hardware, Posted by darkhorse_log