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What you need to know
- The European Union has approved new rules to make it easier to repair consumer products such as washing machines and smartphones.
- This interim agreement is intended to be convenient for consumers who want their devices to last longer without major issues.
- According to an interim agreement approved by the European Council and Parliament, manufacturers are now obliged to add an additional 12 months to the warranty period after repairing their products.
The European Union has agreed new rules to make consumer products such as washing machines and smartphones easier to repair and reduce the disposal of broken electronics.
The European Council and Parliament have voted in favor of an interim agreement that strengthens right-to-repair legislation. This means that after the manufacturer repairs the product (via Android Authority) he must add 12 months to the warranty.
However, EU countries may extend their bonus guarantee period. The European product currently comes with a two-year warranty on him, but this could turn into a three-year deal.
This interim agreement will provide relief for consumers who want to continue using their devices without major issues.
“With today’s agreement, Europe clearly chooses to repair rather than scrap,” Belgian Secretary of State for Budget and Consumer Protection Alexia Bertrand said. “By making it easier to repair defective products, we not only breathe new life into our products, we also create quality jobs, reduce waste, limit dependence on foreign raw materials and help the environment. I will protect you.”
These rules give you the option to repair or replace your device during the two-year warranty period. Manufacturers will have to provide details of spare parts directly on their websites, allowing everyone in the repair industry to access these parts at prices that are affordable to consumers.
The right to repair rule applies to many products such as smartphones, tablets, washing machines, dishwashers, refrigerators, screens and vacuum cleaners. In the US, tech giants like Google are already making their latest flagship phones repairable, recently making parts for the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro available to end users via iFixit.
The EU is also ensuring that manufacturers do not smuggle used or 3D-printed parts from independent repair shops. The contract also guarantees that the seller will make repairs within a reasonable time and at a fair price.
In addition, the preliminary agreement includes the submission of a standard repair information form. There is no additional charge for this form, but the repairer may charge a fee if they need to run diagnostics on your device.
Finally, the EU is building an online repair platform. It acts as a one-stop shop listing all repair services within the region as well as in each member state.
The EU fears the new rules will encourage consumers to repair their gadgets, giving them peace of mind for at least another year, and possibly longer.
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