EU Parliament approves Right to Repair directive to cut waste

Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) have endorsed the Right to Repair Directive aimed at enhancing consumer access to repair services and reducing waste, aligning with the principles of the Green Deal. Introduced by the Commission in March 2023, this directive prioritizes repairs over replacements. It includes provisions to streamline repair processes, specify manufacturer responsibilities, and establish an online platform for locating repair shops and refurbished goods sellers.

During the final plenary session in Strasbourg, MEPs overwhelmingly supported an amendment to the directive, which not only improves consumer access to repair services but also clarifies the regulatory powers of member states and mandates crucial information disclosure by repairers before entering into repair contracts. René Repasi (S&D), a key advocate for the directive, highlighted that the legislation extends legal guarantees by 12 months for repairs and facilitates better access to spare parts.

The directive’s emphasis on repair extends beyond warranty coverage, giving consumers more flexibility in choosing repair providers. This approach fosters fair competition among repair services and boosts consumer confidence in independent repair options. Notably, tech giants like Apple have faced criticism for their restrictive repair policies, prompting recent announcements to allow the use of Apple parts for specific iPhone models.