Regulatory compliance | 6 minute read
Updated: February 2026
If your company sells physical products in the EU, chances are you will be affected by the EU’s new Right to Repair Directive.
The directive introduces new rules that make repair the preferred option over replacement. Its goal is simple: extend product lifetimes, reduce waste, and make repair easier for consumers and independent repairers.
To help you understand what this means in practice, this article explains what the Right to Repair Directive is, which products are covered, what companies must do, and why it matters.
The EU Right to Repair Directive (EU) 2024/1799 is a new EU law designed to promote the repair of goods instead of replacing them.
What is the new Right to Repair law?
It requires manufacturers to:
- Support repair even after the legal warranty ends
- Provide access to repair information and spare parts
- Ensure repair prices are reasonable and transparent
- Remove barriers that discourage repair
The directive is part of the EU’s broader Green Deal and circular economy strategy. It applies across all EU member states once implemented into national law.
The EU Right to Repair Directive timeline
From when do companies need to comply?
The directive is in force since July 2024 and will apply from July 31 2026. Member states must implement it into national law, which means compliance will be mandatory across the EU.
2024 – Directive enters EU law. Awareness & assessment phase begins
2025 – Members states draft national legislation. Companies begin compliance planning
2026 – National laws apply across the EU. Manufacturers must meet new obligations:
- Repair information & reasonable pricing must be available
- Spare parts access and documentation requirements apply
2027 – Expected expansion of Annex II product categories. Increasing enforcement. Sustainability reporting links strengthen (CSRD, ESPR).
What products are covered by the EU Right to Repair Directive?
The directive initially applies to specific product groups listed in Annex II. These include:
- Household washing machines and dryers
- Dishwashers
- Refrigerators and freezers
- Electronic displays (TVs and monitors)
- Smartphones, tablets, and cordless phones
- Vacuum cleaners
- Servers and data storage equipment
- Welding equipment
- E-bikes and e-scooters
This list will expand over time as new product categories gain repairability requirements under EU law.
Importantly, the rules apply to any company placing these products on the EU market, including non-EU manufacturers.
What are the main requirements of the EU Right to Repair Directive?
The directive introduces several concrete obligations for manufacturers and other economic operators.
- Repair must be available beyond warranty
Even after the legal guarantee period ends, manufacturers must offer repair for covered products.
- Spare parts and tools must be accessible
Spare parts, tools, and software needed for repair must be made available at a reasonable price. Pricing must not discourage repair.
- Repair information must be provided
Clear, accessible repair information must be available for the entire product lifetime. This applies to consumers and independent repairers.
- Transparent repair pricing
Manufacturers must publish indicative repair prices on a free-access website, allowing consumers to compare repair versus replacement.
- Repair should be preferred over replacement
The directive aims to shift market behaviour so that repair becomes the default solution whenever feasible.
What are the benefits of the EU Right to Repair Directive for consumers?
For consumers, the directive delivers several tangible benefits:
- Longer product lifetimes
- Lower costs compared to replacement
- Easier access to repair services
- Greater transparency on pricing and options
- Less waste and environmental impact
Repair becomes a real, practical choice, not a frustrating last resort.
What does the Right to Repair Directive mean for manufacturers?
For manufacturers, this is not just a legal update. It changes how repair knowledge is created, managed, and shared.
Companies must ensure that:
- Repair documentation is accurate and up to date
- Information is accessible across regions and user groups
- Spare parts data, manuals, and instructions are consistent
- Repair processes can scale as product coverage expands
In many organizations, Right to Repair becomes the trigger to modernize fragmented documentation, manual workflows, and disconnected systems.
Getting ready for Right to Repair
The Right to Repair Directive applies from July 2026, but preparation takes time.
Organizations that start early can:
- Identify gaps in documentation and repair data
- Align engineering, service, IT, and legal teams
- Build scalable, compliant repair information processes
💬 Want to discuss how this affects your products or documentation setup and how we can help? Get in touch with our Cecilia.
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