Since 31 July 2026, the right to repair applies across the European Union. This directive (EU 2024/1799) requires manufacturers to repair commonly used products, even after the warranty period has expired. Media coverage has focused mainly on what this means for consumers: repairing becomes easier and more attractive than replacing. But what does the directive mean for manufacturers and sellers? In this article, we discuss which obligations apply, what your organization needs to arrange now and how the directive fits into the broader European movement toward circularity.
Which products does the right to repair cover?
The directive applies to products for which repairability requirements have been established at the European level. At the moment, these include washing machines, tumble dryers, dishwashers, refrigeration appliances, vacuum cleaners, mobile phones, tablets, electronic displays, welding equipment, and servers and data storage products. This list will be extended in the coming years, in parallel with the development of new ecodesign requirements. The repair obligation applies to sales contracts concluded from that date onward.
What do manufacturers and sellers need to arrange?
The directive places a series of concrete obligations on manufacturers. The most important ones at a glance:
An obligation to repair, even outside the warranty
If a consumer requests the repair of a product within the scope, you as a manufacturer are required to carry it out, within a reasonable time. Refusal is only allowed when repair is impossible in practice. Economic reasons, such as the cost of parts, or the fact that someone else has previously worked on the product, are not valid grounds for refusal. Outsourcing the repair is allowed, but the responsibility remains with the manufacturer. During the repair, the manufacturer may choose to lend the consumer a replacement product, possibly for a fee.
A reasonable price
The repair must be carried out free of charge or at a reasonable price. What exactly counts as a reasonable price is left open by the directive. The starting point, however, is clear: the price must not discourage consumers from exercising their right to repair. For example: a price built up from labor costs, parts, the costs of the repair facility and a customary margin. This calls for a well-considered and defensible pricing policy for repairs.
Access to parts, information and tools
Spare parts and tools must be available at a price that does not discourage repair, including for independent repairers and refurbishers. In addition, it is prohibited to obstruct repair through contractual clauses or through hardware and software techniques. Independent repairers may also not be prevented from using original, second-hand, compatible or 3D-printed parts, as long as these meet the legal requirements.
Information obligations
Manufacturers must make information about their repair services available free of charge and in an easily accessible way, including indicative prices for common repairs on a freely accessible website. There is also the European Repair Information Form: a standard form through which repairers, at the consumer’s request, provide clarity about the repair in advance. The information in this form is valid for at least thirty days, allowing the consumer to compare providers. In addition, a European online platform with national sections is being set up where consumers can find repairers and refurbishers.
Also applicable to manufacturers outside the EU
If the manufacturer is established outside the EU, the repair obligation shifts to the authorized representative in the EU. If there is none, it shifts to the importer and then to the distributor. Importers and distributors of, for example, Asian electronics would therefore do well to make agreements now on who bears the repair obligation and how it will be organized.
For sellers: extended warranty after repair
Something changes for sellers too. The legal warranty is extended once by twelve months when, in the event of a defect within the warranty period, the consumer chooses repair instead of replacement. This makes repair the attractive alternative within the warranty as well.
The Dutch implementation is delayed
EU member states were required to transpose the directive into national law by 31 July 2026. Remarkably, the Netherlands missed this deadline, even though the directive was adopted back in June 2024. The legislative proposal was only sent to the Dutch House of Representatives in early July 2026 and will be debated after the summer recess. The Dutch law is expected to follow this autumn. Until then, Dutch consumers cannot yet enforce the new rights.
For organizations, this delay changes little. The content of the directive is fixed and the obligations are known. Waiting for the Dutch legislative process to be completed is therefore neither necessary nor wise.
Part of a broader European movement
The right to repair does not stand alone. The directive is closely linked to the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR), which sets requirements for the design and repairability of products. There is also a clear relationship with the digital product passport, which makes information about materials and repair options accessible, and with extended producer responsibility (EPR), which makes producers responsible for the waste phase of their products.
These laws all point in the same direction: the European legislator is shifting the responsibility for a product from the moment of sale to its entire lifespan. Repairability thereby becomes a legal product characteristic, with consequences for product design, procurement and supply chain agreements.
At the same time, opportunities arise: repair, refurbishment and the supply of parts are becoming serious markets, resulting in longer customer relationships and new revenue streams. This creates a strong business case for the circular economy. And for organizations reporting under the CSRD, this legislation makes the theme of circularity (ESRS E5) concrete: from a general ambition to measurable questions about lifespan, repair rate and reuse. A thorough double materiality analysis provides guidance here.
Map out where your organization stands
Do you want to know what the right to repair means for your organization? Start with these steps:
- Determine the scope. Do the products of your organization, or those of supply chain partners, fall under the directive? And if not now, will they possibly be covered by the announced extensions? The Dutch RVO offers an up-to-date overview of the rules around repair.
- Set up the repair organization. Decide whether you carry out repairs yourself or outsource them, establish a defensible pricing policy, organize the supply of parts and make sure the required information is available for consumers and repairers.
- Review contracts and products. Check whether contractual clauses, software or design choices obstruct repair, and make agreements within the supply chain on who bears the repair obligation.
Do you need help translating these obligations into the strategy and operations of your organization? Feel free to contact us, without any obligation. Our consultants are happy to look at this with you, so we can make an impact together.