New rules in France and across the EU mean manufacturers are now required to repair damaged products at a reasonable price and promptly, whenever possible - even if they are out of warranty.

The provisions of the European directive “aimed at promoting the repair of goods” have been in effect since July 31st and are intended to extend the lifespan of consumer products.

From now on, anyone who chooses to have a consumer product repaired, rather than replacing it, within the two-year period of its statutory warranty, is entitled to a one-year extension of that warranty, compared to six months previously. 

If a seller requires you to replace an item rather than have it repaired, the statutory warranty is extended for two years from the date of replacement.

The directive also includes the right to repair for certain categories of “technically repairable products” even after the two-year warranty period has expired.

A list of these products has been established at an EU level, which will be updated annually. The list includes:

  • vacuum cleaners;
  • smartphones;
  • tablets;
  • televisions;
  • refrigerators;
  • washing machines;
  • dishwashers.

If a product in one of these categories breaks or is damaged, the consumer has the right to demand the manufacturer repairs it. 

Out-of-warranty repairs are not free, but must be offered and carried out at “a reasonable price”, the directive states. The repair timeframe must also be reasonable.

This obligation applies for up to between five and 10 years after purchase, depending on the product and the replacement part in question.

Manufacturers must ensure customers can easily access contact information for repair services. They may provide this information on their website or in the product’s user manual. In addition, they must publish indicative prices for the most common repairs on a publicly accessible website.

A manufacturer may refuse a repair if it is “impossible”, according to the directive, which does not define what makes a repair impossible. However, it is specified that a manufacturer cannot invoke this concept for purely economic reasons, such as the cost of replacement parts. Nor can a manufacturer refuse a repair solely on the grounds that a previous repair was performed by a third party.

The European Commission states that, in the event of a dispute, it is up to competent authorities and courts of the Member States to determine whether the repair in question is impossible.

The obligation to repair applies to manufacturers in all European Union countries, while sellers may be required to comply with this obligation in certain situations (for example, for products from manufacturers located outside the European Union for which there is neither an authorised representative nor a European importer).

In addition, plans are in place to launch a digital platform in every European country by 2027 to help users find a suitable repairer, a seller of refurbished products, or even participatory repair initiatives.

In France, you can already use the Épargnons nos ressources platform, run by the Agence de la transition écologique (ADEME), to find a repair technician; this platform also offers “repair tutorials” to help consumers carry out minor repairs on their devices whenever possible.