European Parliament approves rules for repairing electronics

The European Parliament has passed a resolution for the right to repair electronic equipment more easily and keep it alive longer. It contains rules about reparability, but also warranty periods and availability of parts.

MEPs have asked the European Commission to draw up rules on reusability and a longer lifespan of electronic consumer equipment such as smartphones, as well as laptops and e-readers. European citizens should have the right to ‘repair them more attractively, systematically and cost-effectively’. There are various options for this, say the politicians.

For example, the politicians want manufacturers to indicate how long a device can last for the purchase. Security updates would then be mandatory for the estimated life of a device. Manufacturers should also do more to ensure reparability. Independent repairers would play a role in this; they should always have access to spare parts and the information needed to carry out repairs. Parts should also be standardized. The politicians also want guarantee periods to last longer.

Parliamentarians also want European member states to focus more on sustainability and the reuse of appliances. For example, countries should encourage the buying of second-hand electronics. They should also better recycle waste equipment. The proposals are less concrete for that; the parliamentarians especially want to stimulate it among member states, which must ‘create awareness’ for it.

For the time being, this is not a concrete bill. MEPs have now voted on submitting a plan to the European Commission. A total of 395 MEPs voted to table the resolution. 94 voted against. The European Commission must now debate its content. The proposal also has to pass through the Council of Europe.

The European Commission is likely to largely agree with the proposed rules. The EC itself has also been committed to repairability and the right to repair for a long time. For example, the Commission previously wanted to force smartphone batteries to be made replaceable.