From July 31, 2026, EU directive 2024/1799 on the right to repair enters into force, and member states must transpose it by that date. The regulation covers a wide range of consumer goods including household appliances such as washing machines and vacuum cleaners, as well as electronic devices such as smartphones and televisions.

Under the new rules, producers are obliged to repair, even outside the legal warranty period, a broken or defective good that is technically repairable. The repair must be carried out free of charge or at a reasonable price and within a reasonable timeframe. If repair proves impossible, the producer may offer the consumer a refurbished product.

Before starting the work, the repairer must provide the consumer with a European form containing information on the type of intervention, time required, prices, and any substitute product. Producers are also required to make spare parts and tools available at a reasonable price that does not discourage repair.

If a product is found defective during the warranty period, the consumer may choose between replacement and repair; in the case of repair, the warranty is extended by one year, thus increasing from 24 to 36 months.

If the producer required to carry out the repair is based outside the EU, the obligation falls on its authorized representative within the EU or on the importer of the good.

By July 31, 2027, a European online platform must be established to allow consumers to find repairers, sellers of refurbished goods, buyers of defective goods for refurbishment, or participatory repair initiatives.

Italy has already taken action through an implementing legislative decree to amend the Consumer Code in line with the European directive, as explained by Gabriele Melluso, president of Assoutenti. According to the association, the disposal of repairable products generates 35 million tonnes of waste per year in Europe, with significant social and environmental costs. Assoutenti considers the new rules to reduce waste generation and counter the phenomenon of planned obsolescence, encouraging manufacturers to produce longer-lasting goods.