EU enacts law requiring repairs of smartphones, home appliances, etc.

In order to conserve resources and reduce waste, the European Parliament is working to improve the ' right to repair .' In addition to a bill that requires smartphones to extend their battery life and a proposed regulation that requires them to be equipped with replaceable batteries, a bill that requires manufacturers to repair products free of charge was adopted in April 2024, but a new 'Directive on Common Regulations to Facilitate the Repair of Products' came into effect on July 30, 2024.

Directive on repair of goods - European Commission
https://commission.europa.eu/law/law-topic/consumer-protection-law/consumer-contract-law/directive-repair-goods_en

Directive - EU - 2024/1799 - EN - EUR-Lex
https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A32024L1799

On April 23, 2024, the European Parliament announced that it had adopted a Directive by a majority vote to legally provide for the 'right to repair.' Under this Directive, if the cost of repairing a product that breaks during the warranty period is equal to or less than the cost of replacing it, the seller is obligated to repair it free of charge within a reasonable period of time without causing inconvenience to the consumer. In addition, manufacturers are prohibited from using clauses or hardware or software technology that would prevent repairs, and are obligated to provide spare parts and tools at a fair price.

EU adopts 'right to repair' rules requiring manufacturers to repair phones for free - GIGAZINE

The Directive on Common Regulations to Facilitate the Repair of Goods, adopted on June 13, 2024, aims to prevent the premature disposal of repairable products, and stipulates the obligation to repair and the provision of information on repair services, as well as the operation of an online platform for repairs and a mechanism to extend warranties by one year in cases where repairs are made instead of replacements. In addition, EU member states must take at least one measure to promote repairs within their own country.

The Directive on common rules to facilitate the repair of goods will come into force on 30 July 2024 and Member States will have until 31 July 2026 to transpose it into national regulations.

The EU is focusing on the ' European Green Deal ' with the aim of improving people's happiness and health. The European Parliament has indicated that it will work on developing an online platform to promote repairs and updating the list of products that are subject to the repair obligation.