The European Parliament has adopted an upcoming European Commission proposal on the “right to repair” planned for later in 2022, with 509 votes in favor, 3 against & 13 abstentions.
It said in a press release on its Website that MEPs agreed that an effective right to repair should address a product’s lifecycle & take into account product design, ethical production, standardization & consumer information including labelling on repairability & public procurement. It should foster a more efficient use of resources, reduce waste & encourage an extended use of products.
Durable products that can be repaired
MEPs want products to be designed to last longer, to be safely repaired & their parts easily removed. They believe that a proper “right to repair” should give repairers & consumers access to repair & maintenance information, free of charge.
Concerning digital devices, MEPs argue that software updates should be reversible & not lead to diminished performance of, for example, smartphones. They should be made available for a minimum period of time, & consumers should be fully informed at the time of purchase on the availability of updates.
Practices which unduly constrain the right to repair or lead to obsolescence could be considered as “unfair commercial practices” & banned under EU law, the announcement said.
To read the entire announcement, click here.
