Key Terms
- Repair
- Restoring a defective good to a condition where it conforms to its intended use, as defined in Article 2, point (20), of Regulation (EU) 2024/1781 (Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation).
- Repairability requirements
- Requirements under the Union legal acts listed in Annex II which enable a good to be repaired, including design for disassembly, access to spare parts, repair-related information and tools [Art. 2(11)].
- European Repair Information Form
- A standardised form (Annex I) that repairers may voluntarily provide to consumers, specifying the defect, price, repair time, temporary replacement availability and ancillary services, binding for at least 30 calendar days [Art. 4].
- Manufacturer
- As defined in Article 2, point (42), of Regulation (EU) 2024/1781 — any natural or legal person who manufactures a product or has a product designed or manufactured, and markets that product under its name or trademark [Art. 2(5)].
- Refurbishment
- As defined in Article 2, point (18), of Regulation (EU) 2024/1781 — preparing or modifying a product or component to restore its performance or functionality to the intended use, range of performance and maintenance originally conceived at the design stage [Art. 2(10)].
- European online platform for repair
- An EU-wide online platform established under Article 7, consisting of national sections with a common online interface and links to compliant national platforms, enabling consumers to find repairers, refurbished goods sellers and community-led repair initiatives.
- Liability period
- The period during which the seller is liable for any lack of conformity of the goods under Directive (EU) 2019/771 — at least two years from delivery, extended once by 12 months when repair is chosen as the conformity remedy [Art. 16].
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Frequently Asked Questions
Which products are covered by the manufacturer's obligation to repair?
Only goods for which EU-level repairability requirements exist and which are listed in Annex II: household washing machines and washer-dryers, dishwashers, refrigerating appliances, electronic displays, welding equipment, vacuum cleaners, servers and data storage products, mobile phones, cordless phones and slate tablets, tumble dryers, goods with light means of transport batteries, and — since Delegated Directive (EU) 2026/74 — domestic local space heaters [Art. 5(1), Art. 1(3)]. The Commission must update Annex II within 12 months of any new repairability legislation [Art. 5(9)].
Can the manufacturer charge for repair outside the legal guarantee?
Yes. Outside the seller's liability period under Directive (EU) 2019/771, the manufacturer may charge a reasonable price for repair [Art. 5(2)(a)]. The price must not intentionally deter consumers from exercising their right to repair [Recital 16]. Within the legal guarantee, the seller must repair or replace free of charge [Art. 16, amending Art. 14(1) of Directive 2019/771].
How does the 12-month liability extension work?
When a consumer chooses repair as the conformity remedy under Directive (EU) 2019/771, the seller's liability period is extended once by 12 months, added to the remaining liability period [Art. 16, inserting Art. 10(2a) into Directive 2019/771]. This applies only to sales contracts concluded after 31 July 2026 [Art. 21]. Member States may provide for longer extensions [Recital 40].
What is the European Repair Information Form?
A standardised form (Annex I) that any repairer may voluntarily provide to a consumer, detailing the defect, price, repair time, availability of replacement goods, and ancillary services [Art. 4(4)]. Once provided, conditions are binding for at least 30 days [Art. 4(5)]. If the consumer accepts within that period, the repairer must perform the repair under those conditions [Art. 4(5)].
Can a manufacturer refuse repair because an independent repairer previously serviced the product?
No. Manufacturers may not refuse to repair goods covered by Annex II for the sole reason that a previous repair was performed by other repairers or by other persons [Art. 5(7)]. They are also prohibited from using contractual clauses, hardware or software techniques to impede repair unless justified by legitimate and objective factors such as intellectual property protection [Art. 5(6)].
What happens if the manufacturer is based outside the EU?
The repair obligation falls on the authorised representative in the EU. Where no authorised representative exists, the importer performs the obligation. Where there is no importer, the distributor must step in [Art. 5(3)]. Each may sub-contract the actual repair work.
What does Commission Delegated Directive (EU) 2026/74 change?
Delegated Directive (EU) 2026/74, in force since 10 May 2026, adds domestic local space heaters as a new point 11 in Annex II to Directive (EU) 2024/1799, based on repairability requirements in Commission Regulation (EU) 2024/1103 [Art. 1 of 2026/74]. Member States must transpose this addition by 31 July 2026 [Art. 2 of 2026/74].
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