Right to Repair: What the New EU Directive Means for You

Update — May 2026: The transposition deadline is approaching — EU member states have until July 2026 to adopt the relevant national legislation. This article has been updated to reflect the latest developments.

Why the right to repair was created

Repairing a broken pair of headphones was straightforward a decade ago. Today it is a challenge: manufacturers deliberately complicate access to spare parts, glue in batteries, use proprietary screws and refuse to provide documentation to independent repair technicians.

The result? The average European discards functional or slightly damaged electrical appliances an average of 7 years before the end of their physically possible lifespan. Across the EU, that amounts to 35 million tonnes of electronic waste every year.

The European Parliament and the Council of the EU responded in June 2024 by adopting the Directive on common rules promoting the repair of goods (2024/1799/EU).

What the directive specifically requires

Electronics and home appliance manufacturers now face the following obligations:

• Ensure the availability of spare parts and tools for a minimum of 10 years after production ends
• Complete repairs within 30–45 working days (depending on category)
• Not prevent repair through software, DRM or proprietary fasteners
• Provide access to technical documentation for independent repair shops at a reasonable cost

Consumers gain the right to:

• Request repair instead of replacement under warranty
• Use the European Repair Information Form — a standardised document that manufacturers must accept
• Access the European Repair Platform (launch planned for 2026) — a registry of certified repair services

What has not happened yet

It is important to be precise: the directive is mandatory for all member states from July 2026 — until then, transposition is ongoing. Not all countries have fully incorporated it into national law.

Moreover, the directive in its first phase applies only to selected categories: washing machines, tumble dryers, dishwashers, fridges, televisions, mobile phones and tablets. Other categories (furniture, clothing, footwear) are awaiting follow-on legislation.

How it will change the electronics market

IKOR is tracking three scenarios:

Optimistic: manufacturers adapt, a lively spare parts market emerges, repair costs fall by 20–30%, the average appliance lifespan extends by 2–3 years.

Middle: large manufacturers comply with the letter of the law at minimum, independent repair shops still encounter software barriers, the market changes gradually.

Pessimistic: enforcement is weak (as with previous eco-labels), manufacturers lobby for exemptions, actual spare parts availability remains low.

The most likely outcome is closer to the middle scenario — but the legislation creates a foundation on which consumer organisations, regulators and researchers like IKOR can build.

What this means for consumers today

Before the directive takes full effect, we recommend:

1. Check the iFixit score before buying — for phones and laptops this is the best available proxy for repairability
2. Ask the retailer about spare parts availability — they are legally required to answer
3. Keep repair records — this documents the product's history and increases its resale value on the secondhand market
4. Report violations — consumer protection authorities accept complaints and have begun investigations into repairability in 2025

What changes in 2026

The transposition deadline is July 2026. The most advanced implementations are in France (where the Indice de Réparabilité has been in force since 2021), Belgium and the Netherlands.

Manufacturers who want to be prepared:

• Need to publish repairability scores for regulated product categories
• Must ensure availability of spare parts and technical documentation
• Must not impede repair through software locks or proprietary materials

If you are a manufacturer or retailer and need guidance on implementation, contact us — we help businesses meet the directive's requirements while turning compliance into a competitive communications advantage.

IKOR monitors implementation of the Right to Repair Directive across all 27 EU member states. Data from this monitoring feeds into the Repairability Index and IKOR's annual report.