EU votes to back Right to Repair proposals
The European Union has taken a further step toward implementing Right to Repair laws, with the latest vote backing proposals regarding repairability, and adding a requirement that manufacturers increase the warranty periods.
Proposals for Right to Repair legislation have been working through the EU's political process since 2020, but a major element has now passed a plenary vote.
According to Public Affairs Brussels, the European Parliament voted 509 in favor, with three against, and 13 abstentions, to adopt the European Commission's proposal and make it an EU key initiative for 2022.
The full proposal presented to Parliament, 79% of EU citizens think manufacturers should be required to make it easier to repair devices, or replace individual parts. Some 77% would rather repair their devices than replace them.
The proposed laws include a requirement for companies regarding "an extension of the legal guarantee beyond two years for some product categories."
"We believe that longer guarantee periods will provide an incentive to choose repair over replace," Marcel Kolaja, Member of both the European Parliament and the Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection told press.
Such an extension would fall under the aegis of the EU's separate Sale of Goods Directive, which is also currently under review. The European Commission says it will consider introducing the Right to Repair proposals into legislation in the third quarter of 2022.
Perhaps in response to the EU's long ongoing right to repair plans, and those of the US too, Apple announced the 2022 launch of a Self Service Repair program for users. It has yet to see the light of day beyond the announcement, nearly five months later
Read on AppleInsider
Proposals for Right to Repair legislation have been working through the EU's political process since 2020, but a major element has now passed a plenary vote.
According to Public Affairs Brussels, the European Parliament voted 509 in favor, with three against, and 13 abstentions, to adopt the European Commission's proposal and make it an EU key initiative for 2022.
The full proposal presented to Parliament, 79% of EU citizens think manufacturers should be required to make it easier to repair devices, or replace individual parts. Some 77% would rather repair their devices than replace them.
The proposed laws include a requirement for companies regarding "an extension of the legal guarantee beyond two years for some product categories."
"We believe that longer guarantee periods will provide an incentive to choose repair over replace," Marcel Kolaja, Member of both the European Parliament and the Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection told press.
Such an extension would fall under the aegis of the EU's separate Sale of Goods Directive, which is also currently under review. The European Commission says it will consider introducing the Right to Repair proposals into legislation in the third quarter of 2022.
Perhaps in response to the EU's long ongoing right to repair plans, and those of the US too, Apple announced the 2022 launch of a Self Service Repair program for users. It has yet to see the light of day beyond the announcement, nearly five months later
Read on AppleInsider
Comments
The warranty extension is a great idea but there will be devils in the details for sure, just as there are at the moment.
The first industry to get this treatment will probably be the textile industry with requirements for longer lasting garments.
Another great move, away from the 'use and wash three times' and throw away.
The FCC does not design iPhones. The FDA does not design drugs.
There is a lot that can be done to make devices more accessible (less labour time on repair as a result) and easier to repair and upgrade.
Top end Android hardware and design has long been up there with Apple - or better!
You don't think longer warranties could improve things at the low end?
Nope - nothings for free. The "low end" won't be so "low" any longer, or they just won't sell in the EU any longer...
I still can't fathom what your original post was aiming for in the context of what I said.
I much rather have a smartphone that is not easy to repair but will most likely not need repairing during its useful life, than one that is easy to repair but will most likely need some repair work during its useful life. Except for replacing batteries and LCD. The two most common repair work that should always be easy.
Extended warranties are very high profit margin sales for a reason. The products they cover were designed to last longer than the extended warranty period.
Plus, with electronics like smartphones, about the only repairs done under warranty by the venders, are the ones that are already easy, like replacing the screen or battery. Nearly all other repairs work result in them replacing the smartphone with an already refurbished one. Then the one needing repaired is done by the company that actually assembled the smartphone and then returned to be sold as refurbished.
“I much rather have a smartphone that is not easy to repair but will most likely not need repairing during its useful life, than one that is easy to repair but will most likely need some repair work during its useful life. Except for replacing batteries and LCD. The two most common repair work that should always be easy. “
Bingo the winner of this comment section.
I buy Apple products because, if they are not abused, they last an incredibly long time. In the end, this is the main quality that reduces e-waste and consumer cost, not dismantling ability for the sake of a government mandate.
No. Electronics can be made to last longer and be repairable.
I don't buy the 'one reason why a lot of electronics are not easy to repair' because it is only one of many. Another is that it dissuades from repair. Especially when the 'out of warranty' or 'not covered by warranty' repair cost itself is so expensive and/or requires substitution of fully working, perfectly good components - by design.
Inaccessibility for repair due to adhesives and sealants for IP ratings which are never covered by warranty anyway is another bone of contention. Nano coatings for electronics have been around for years and how many phones actually end up submerged for any reason? A tiny fraction for sure. Splash resistance us all that is necessary.
Was there any really good reason for glass backs on phones apart from 'it feels premium'?
Is there any good reason why onboard storage cannot be upgraded? Especially when some phones shipped with barely enough for your average user out of the box?
Sometimes when I watch teardown videos I get the sensation that some design decisions were taken solely to make repair more difficult or time consuming.