The European Union gives the green light to the right to repair: when will it arrive in Spain and which products does it affect | The truth

How many times have we heard that current cars, phones or appliances are not as durable as the old ones. Many attribute these problems to planned obsolescence, that is, to the fact that these products are manufactured so that, after a certain period of time or after the warranty has expired, they stop working, causing customers to have to purchase new ones. However, this not only affects consumers' pockets, but also the environment, as it generates immense amounts of waste.

To resolve this problem, the European Parliament has given the green light to the 'Right to Repair' Directive, a measure that according to the Organization of Consumers and Users (OCU) aims to ensure that products can be easily repaired, after their warranty expires. , which is currently three years, has ended.

When will the 'Right to repair' be applied in Spain

Although the European Parliament has already approved this directive, there is a period of 24 months to apply it, from the moment the Council gives its approval. Therefore, it will not be effective immediately in our country. In fact, the idea is to incorporate it into the future Sustainable Consumption Law.

How it will work and which products it affects

According to the OCU, if you buy a product from one of the categories it includes and it breaks once the warranty has expired, you should know that the manufacturer has the obligation to repair it free of charge or at a reasonable price, in an appropriate time. It must also provide free and easily accessible information on prices. They cannot refuse to repair the products because they have been repaired before by other technicians or people.

The products Those who will be affected by this new regulation are:

-Washers, dryers and washer-dryers.

-Dishwashers, refrigerators and vacuum cleaners.

-Electronic screens and tablets.

-Mobile phones, cordless phones

-Servers and data storage products.

-Products that incorporate batteries for light means of transport.

-Welding equipment.

Can they deny you repair?

If the manufacturer judges the repair 'impossible', it does not have to undertake it. In that case, and only if he wants, he can offer you a refurbished product. “Therefore, it is up to their discretion to decide whether or not reparation is possible, and to yours to decide whether their refusal is justified and whether it deserves to be discussed in court, something that can be quite complicated,” the organization notes.

Where they cannot put obstacles to repair is the conditions of the contracts or through manipulations of the 'hardware' or 'software', “unless they have legitimate and objective reasons, such as protecting intellectual property rights.”