From 31 July 2026, new EU rules will make it easier for consumers to have certain products repaired instead of replacing them.

The rules do not introduce a general obligation to repair every product sold in the European Union. They apply primarily to consumer goods for which EU legislation already establishes specific reparability requirements.

The responsible company is usually the manufacturer. However, where the manufacturer is established outside the EU, responsibility may pass to its authorised representative, the importer or, in certain cases, the distributor.

Companies selling electrical and electronic equipment should therefore determine whether their products are covered, who is responsible for providing the repair service and how the new obligations interact with existing warranty and WEEE requirements.

What changes on 31 July 2026?

Directive (EU) 2024/1799 on common rules promoting the repair of goods entered into force on 30 July 2024. Member States must transpose the Directive into national law and apply the relevant provisions from 31 July 2026.

The Directive addresses two different situations.

The first concerns defects that appear while the seller remains legally liable for the conformity of the product. This is commonly referred to as the legal guarantee period.

The second concerns defects that occur or become apparent outside the seller’s liability period. For certain regulated products, consumers will be able to request a repair directly from the manufacturer or another responsible economic operator.

This distinction is important because the responsible company, repair price and applicable legal basis differ.

Does every product have to be repaired?

No.

The obligation applies only to goods for which EU legislation has established reparability requirements and which are covered by Annex II of the Right to Repair Directive.

As of July 2026, the list broadly includes certain:

• household washing machines and washer-dryers;
• household dishwashers;
• refrigerating appliances;
• electronic displays and televisions;
• vacuum cleaners;
• tumble dryers;
• servers and data-storage products;
• welding equipment;
• smartphones, other mobile phones, cordless phones and slate tablets;
• goods incorporating batteries for light means of transport;
• domestic local space heaters.

This does not mean that every model, component and type of defect within these categories is automatically covered.

The repair obligation applies only to the extent that the relevant EU product legislation imposes a corresponding reparability requirement. Companies must therefore assess both the product category and the specific ecodesign or battery rules applicable to the product.

The list will not remain static. The European Commission can add further EU legal acts to Annex II as new product-specific reparability requirements are introduced.

Domestic local space heaters were added in 2026, demonstrating that the scope is expected to expand over time.

Is the Directive limited to electrical products?

Most of the products currently covered are electrical or electronic equipment because existing EU ecodesign legislation already contains repair-related requirements for these product groups.

The Directive itself is not permanently limited to electrical equipment.

Additional products may be included when new reparability requirements are adopted under the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation or other EU legislation. Manufacturers should therefore not treat the current Annex II list as a permanent and exhaustive catalogue.

The relevant question is not simply whether a product is electrical. It is whether EU legislation listed in Annex II contains a repairability requirement for that product.

Does the obligation cover products sold before 31 July 2026?

It can.

The manufacturer’s obligation is not limited to products purchased after 31 July 2026. A consumer may also request the repair of an older product where the relevant product-specific reparability requirements continue to apply.

Ecodesign legislation commonly requires manufacturers to provide spare parts or repair information for a defined period after the final unit of a model has been placed on the market.

A product purchased before the application date may therefore remain covered if it is still within the applicable product-specific period.

Companies should review their discontinued models as well as products that remain in active distribution. Removing a model from sale does not necessarily end the corresponding spare-parts and repair obligations.

Who must provide the repair?

The manufacturer is primarily responsible for fulfilling the obligation.

For the purpose of the Directive, this is generally the company recognised as the manufacturer under the applicable EU product legislation. It may be the company that physically manufactures the product or the business that has the product manufactured and markets it under its own name or trademark.

The manufacturer does not have to operate its own repair centres. It may subcontract repairs to affiliated service providers, independent repair businesses or other qualified organisations.

Subcontracting does not remove the underlying legal responsibility. The responsible economic operator must ensure that consumers can actually access a compliant repair service.

What happens when the manufacturer is outside the EU?

A non-EU manufacturer cannot avoid the repair obligation solely because it has no establishment in the European Union.

The Directive establishes the following responsibility chain:

1. Where the manufacturer has an authorised representative in the EU, the authorised representative must perform the repair obligation.
2. Where there is no authorised representative, responsibility passes to the importer of the product.
3. Where there is no importer, the distributor must perform the obligation.

Each of these operators may subcontract the physical repair.

This structure is particularly relevant for private-label companies, importers, online sellers and distributors purchasing products from manufacturers outside the EU.

An EU importer may therefore acquire repair responsibilities even if its commercial agreement with the manufacturer does not currently address repairs, spare parts, technical information or reimbursement of service costs.

Companies should align their distribution agreements with the legal responsibility chain before the rules become applicable.

Is the seller responsible?

Not automatically.

Outside the seller’s legal liability period, the repair obligation primarily rests with the manufacturer or the relevant authorised representative, importer or distributor.

A retailer that merely sells a product manufactured and imported by other companies does not automatically become responsible for providing the post-guarantee repair. The retailer may nevertheless choose to offer its own repair service.

The position is different while the product remains within the legal guarantee.

During this period, the consumer’s legal claim is generally directed against the seller. The seller must provide an appropriate remedy where the product does not conform to the sales contract.

Companies must therefore distinguish between their role as:

• the seller responsible for conformity during the legal guarantee period;
• the manufacturer responsible for repairs outside that period;
• the importer or distributor acting as the fallback responsible operator;
• a voluntary repair service provider.

One company may perform several of these roles.

Must the repair be free of charge?

That depends on whether the defect is covered by the seller’s legal liability.

Repairs within the legal guarantee

Where a product does not conform to the sales contract and the seller remains liable, the applicable remedy must be provided free of charge.

The consumer generally has the right to choose between repair and replacement, subject to the conditions of the Sale of Goods Directive and national law.

From 31 July 2026, where repair is chosen as the remedy, the seller’s liability period must generally be extended once by 12 months. Member States may provide longer periods or equivalent national arrangements.

Before providing the remedy, the seller must inform the consumer about the choice between repair and replacement and the possible extension resulting from a repair.

Repairs outside the legal guarantee

The manufacturer’s separate repair obligation does not require every repair to be free.

The repair must be provided either free of charge or for a reasonable price. The Directive does not establish a fixed price ceiling.

A repair price may take account of factors such as labour, spare parts, operation of the repair facility and a customary commercial margin. However, the price must not be set at a level intended to discourage the consumer from choosing repair.

Consumers remain free to reject the manufacturer’s offer and use another repairer.

Can a manufacturer refuse to repair?

A manufacturer does not have to repair a product where repair is impossible.

The Directive does not, however, provide a general exception merely because replacement would be cheaper or commercially preferable. The ability to charge a reasonable repair price is intended to make the obligation workable without forcing manufacturers to provide every post-guarantee repair free of charge.

A manufacturer must also not refuse a repair solely because the product was previously repaired by an independent repairer or another person.

Where repair is impossible, the manufacturer may offer the consumer a refurbished product. This is an option rather than an automatic consumer entitlement under the repair obligation.

Companies should establish documented criteria for determining when a repair is genuinely impossible and avoid relying on broad internal policies that automatically reject particular repair requests.

What information must companies provide?

The responsible manufacturer, authorised representative, importer or distributor must make information about its repair services available free of charge.

The information must be easily accessible, clear and understandable. It may be provided through a company website, product manual or another suitable consumer-facing channel.

Consumers must also be able to access a free website showing the indicative prices charged for typical repairs of covered products.

This does not necessarily require a binding price for every possible defect. It does require sufficiently useful information to help consumers understand the likely cost of common repair services.

A practical repair information page should clearly explain:

• which products and models can be repaired;
• how a consumer can submit a repair request;
• where products must be sent or made available;
• typical repair prices;
• diagnostic fees;
• expected processing periods;
• available replacement products during repair;
• geographical limitations;
• contact details for the repair service.

The information should remain available for the full period during which the repair obligation applies.

What are the rules for spare parts and repair tools?

Where manufacturers make spare parts and tools available for covered goods, they must offer them at a reasonable price that does not deter repair.

The Directive also restricts measures that prevent independent repair.

Manufacturers must not use contractual clauses, hardware or software techniques that impede repair unless the restriction is justified by legitimate and objective factors, such as product safety or the protection of intellectual property rights.

In particular, manufacturers must not unjustifiably prevent independent repairers from using compliant:

• original spare parts;
• second-hand spare parts;
• compatible spare parts;
• spare parts produced using 3D printing.

These provisions do not override product-safety requirements or intellectual-property rights. They are intended to prevent repair from being blocked merely because a consumer chooses an independent repairer or an alternative compliant spare part.

Businesses should review software pairing, serial-number controls, diagnostic access, repair authorisation procedures and spare-parts policies for covered products.

Can the repair service be outsourced?

Yes.

Manufacturers, authorised representatives, importers and distributors may use external repair providers to fulfil their obligations.

Outsourcing is likely to be the most practical solution for companies that do not operate their own technical service network.

A suitable repair arrangement should address:

• geographical service coverage;
• consumer communication;
• product transportation;
• diagnostic procedures;
• access to technical documentation;
• availability of spare parts;
• data protection for connected devices;
• repair turnaround times;
• quality assurance;
• allocation of costs and liability.

The responsible company should also be able to demonstrate that the external provider can service the relevant products throughout the required period.

A contractual appointment without adequate operational capacity may not be sufficient.

Does the Directive apply to B2B products?

The consumer repair rights introduced by Directive (EU) 2024/1799 apply to goods purchased by consumers.

A sale made exclusively to a business for professional use is therefore not automatically covered by the consumer’s statutory right to request repair under this Directive.

This does not mean that manufacturers of professional equipment have no repair-related obligations. Product-specific ecodesign legislation, commercial warranties, contractual service commitments and national law may still require the provision of spare parts, repair information or maintenance services.

Companies selling the same product to both consumers and professional users should assess the sales channels separately.

What is the European Repair Information Form?

Repairers may use a standardised European Repair Information Form to present the main conditions of a proposed repair.

The form is intended to make repair offers easier for consumers to understand and compare. It can contain information such as:

• the identity of the repairer;
• the product and defect;
• the proposed repair;
• the price or calculation method;
• the expected completion time;
• transport arrangements;
• the availability of a replacement product;
• any commercial guarantee for the repair.

Using the form is generally voluntary. Where a repairer chooses to provide it, the stated repair conditions must normally remain valid for 30 calendar days unless the parties agree otherwise.

A reasonable diagnostic fee may be charged where an examination is necessary to identify the defect and estimate the repair cost, provided the consumer is informed about that fee in advance.

Right to Repair does not replace WEEE obligations

The new repair rules and WEEE Extended Producer Responsibility serve different purposes.

Right to Repair aims to extend the useful life of products and prevent the premature disposal of repairable goods.

WEEE legislation governs products when they are placed on national markets and when they ultimately become waste. Depending on the country and sales model, WEEE obligations may include:

• producer registration;
• authorised representation;
• reporting quantities placed on the market;
• financing collection and treatment;
• organising take-back;
• product marking;
• providing information to consumers and treatment facilities.

Providing a repair service does not remove these obligations. A company may be responsible for repairs under the Right to Repair Directive while also being registered as a WEEE producer in several Member States.

The responsible legal entity may also differ. The manufacturer responsible for repair is not necessarily the same company that qualifies as the WEEE producer in every destination country.

What should companies prepare?

Manufacturers, importers and sellers of potentially covered products should complete a structured assessment before the national rules begin to apply.

The assessment should establish:

1. Which products fall within the current Annex II categories?
2. Which product-specific reparability requirements apply?
3. How long do the relevant spare-parts and information obligations continue?
4. Which entity is the manufacturer under the applicable product legislation?
5. Is the manufacturer established in the EU?
6. Is there an authorised representative, importer or distributor that may inherit the obligation?
7. Is there an operational repair network covering the relevant consumer markets?
8. Can consumers easily access repair information and indicative prices?
9. Do current contracts ensure access to spare parts, software and technical documentation?
10. Are legal guarantee and post-guarantee repair requests handled through separate processes?

Businesses should also monitor national transposition. Directive (EU) 2024/1799 establishes the common framework, but enforcement procedures, penalties and certain national measures will be determined by each Member State.

A targeted obligation with a growing scope

The EU Right to Repair rules do not require every company to repair every product.

The immediate obligation is targeted at consumer goods already subject to EU reparability requirements. Nevertheless, the scope is designed to expand as further ecodesign rules are introduced.

For affected businesses, compliance involves more than arranging occasional technical repairs. Companies need a clear responsibility chain, accessible consumer information, reasonable spare-parts and repair pricing, suitable service coverage and contracts that reflect the responsibilities of manufacturers, importers and distributors.

The rules also need to be managed alongside existing product compliance, legal guarantee and WEEE obligations.

Viron Compliance supports manufacturers, importers and online sellers with the assessment and management of WEEE producer responsibilities across Europe. We help companies identify the responsible legal entities, complete national registrations, appoint authorised representatives and manage ongoing reporting requirements.