Right to repair makes product repair more appealing to consumers

What changes?

Do you manufacture or sell electronic products such as washing machines, laptops, refrigerators or other goods that can break down? There will be new rules from Directive (EU) 2024/1799 promoting the repair of goods . These rules make it easier and cheaper for your customer to have their goods repaired. For consumers this may be an extra reason to choose repairing over replacing such items. This should also lead to less waste.

This will change:

• Duty to repair: Do you manufacture items for which the EU has set rules on repairs, such as appliances with a plug? Then you have to repair these if your customer asks for it, even if the guarantee period has expired. You can charge a reasonable price or repair it for free.
• Clear information: You can use a standard form to show customers what repairs cost and how much time this may take. This is a called the European Repair Information Form.
• Online platform: There will be an online European repair platform (the ‘European online platform’) where consumers can find repairers. Member states can choose to establish a national section on this platform or to maintain a national platform which will also accessible via links on the European platform (in Dutch). Repairers can register if they meet the conditions (in Dutch).
• Extended guarantee: Do you sell products? If a customer chooses repair within the guarantee period, they will get an additional 12 months of guarantee. You must inform your customers about this and in some cases you should lend them a replacement product.

For whom?

• manufacturers of goods
• repairers of goods
• sellers of goods

When?

It is expected this change will be effective from 31 July 2026.

Please note: The effective date of this measure is not yet final. Entry into force is subject to its passing through the Lower and Upper Houses (Tweede en Eerste Kamer) of parliament. After publication in the Staatsblad or Staatscourant (Government Gazette, in Dutch) the law can take effect.