EU Right to Repair: What Manufacturers Must Implement Since July 2026

Updated on 3 October 2026: In Germany, the act implementing the Directive has been in force since 23 July 2026 (BGBl. 2026 I No. 212). We have corrected the statements on the repair information form (voluntary), the 12-month extension (applies to the entire item), the product groups covered (Annex II of Directive 2024/1799) and the timeline. This article reflects the legal situation as of 3 October 2026 and does not constitute legal advice.

On 30 July 2024, Directive (EU) 2024/1799 — known as the „Right to Repair Directive" — entered into force. Member States had to transpose it into national law by 31 July 2026. In Germany, the implementing act of 16 July 2026 (Federal Law Gazette, BGBl. 2026 I No. 212) has been in force since 23 July 2026. For manufacturers, importers and after-sales service providers, this means: obligations regarding repairability, spare parts availability and repair transparency will be harmonised across Europe — and significantly tightened.

Anyone placing electronic devices, household appliances or other repairable products on the European market should now adapt their processes if they have not done so already. We summarise the key rules.

The Key Obligations at a Glance

1. Obligation to repair beyond the legal warranty period

For products in the product groups listed in Annex II of the Directive, for which EU acts lay down repairability requirements — including washing machines, dishwashers, refrigerators and freezers, televisions, smartphones, tablets and other product categories — manufacturers must repair at the request of the consumer even after the statutory warranty has expired (in Germany: Sections 479a to 479g of the Civil Code, BGB). The obligation applies for a product-specific period defined in the relevant EU acts.

2. Spare parts, tools and repair information on fair terms

Manufacturers must offer spare parts and tools for these goods at a reasonable price that does not deter repair (Section 479c BGB). They must provide information about their repair services free of charge and publish indicative prices for typical repairs on a freely accessible website (Section 479d BGB). Contractual clauses and hardware or software techniques that impede repair are prohibited unless justified by legitimate and objective factors such as the protection of intellectual property rights (Article 5(6) of the Directive). In particular, independent repairers must not be prevented from using original, second-hand, compatible or 3D-printed spare parts (Section 479e BGB).

3. European Repair Information Form

Repairers may provide consumers with a standardised EU-wide form. They are not obliged to, and consumers have no right to receive it (in Germany: Article 245 § 1 EGBGB). Among other things, it includes the identity of the repairer, the goods to be repaired, the nature of the defect and of the repair, the price or the calculation method with a maximum price, the duration of the repair and the availability of a replacement device. If the form is issued, it is free of charge and the repairer is bound by its terms for 30 calendar days. It is intended to make prices and services comparable across Europe.

4. Extension of the warranty after repair

If the consumer opts for a repair instead of a replacement within the warranty period, the original limitation period for claims based on defects is extended once by 12 months (Section 475e(5) BGB). According to the German explanatory memorandum, this applies to the entire item, not only to the repaired component. Before remedying the defect, the seller must inform the consumer about the right to choose and about the extension (Section 475(4) BGB). In Germany, this applies to sales contracts concluded from 31 July 2026. The aim is to strengthen the incentive to choose repair over replacement.

5. European online platform for repair matching

By 31 July 2027, the European Commission will develop the common interface of a European Online Platform for Repair; according to the Commission, the platform is due to go live in January 2028. It consists of national sections using a common interface or of links to national platforms. Consumers will be able to find repair providers, sellers of refurbished products and local repair initiatives. For providers, this creates a new visibility channel (registration is voluntary) — and an additional requirement for clean master data.

Which product categories are affected?

The decisive list is Annex II of Directive (EU) 2024/1799 itself. It refers to the product-specific EU acts with repairability requirements and currently covers:

• Household washing machines and washer-dryers
• Household dishwashers
• Refrigerators and freezers
• Electronic displays (televisions, monitors)
• Vacuum cleaners (only mains-operated appliances under Regulation (EU) No 666/2013; cordless and robot vacuum cleaners are excluded)
• Servers and data storage products
• Mobile phones, cordless phones and tablets
• Welding equipment
• Household tumble dryers
• Goods containing batteries for light means of transport, such as e-bikes and e-scooters (according to the German explanatory memorandum, only removal and replacement of the battery)

The Commission amends Annex II by delegated acts as soon as new EU acts lay down repairability requirements. So far (as of 3 October 2026), Delegated Directive (EU) 2026/74 has added household local space heaters.

Timeline — what applies when

• 30 July 2024: Entry into force at EU level
• 23 July 2026: Entry into force of the German implementing act (BGBl. 2026 I No. 212 of 22 July 2026); since then, the manufacturer repair obligation under Sections 479a to 479g BGB has applied
• 31 July 2026: Transposition deadline for Member States
• From 31 July 2026: In Germany, the changes to sales law, such as the 12-month extension after repair, apply to sales contracts concluded from this date (Article 229 § 72 EGBGB)
• By 31 July 2027: the European Commission develops the common interface of the European Online Platform for Repair; launch planned for January 2028
• Ongoing: Expansion of Annex II of the Directive via delegated acts of the Commission

What manufacturers and retailers should do now

The German act already applies. Companies that have not yet adapted their processes should do so promptly. We recommend the following operational steps:

1. Review the product portfolio: Which items fall under the repair obligation? Which spare parts strategies are already in place?
2. Secure spare parts and information availability: Align inventories, supply chains, spare parts databases and technical documentation with the new requirements.
3. Scale repair processes: Turnaround times, diagnostics, quality assurance, return shipping — the existing returns logic must be extended by a genuine repair path.
4. Adjust partner contracts: Spare parts supply to independent workshops, pricing, liability and documentation.
5. Adapt customer communication: Notice of the right to choose and of the extension before every remedy (Section 475(4) BGB), indicative prices on the website, the voluntary repair form where used, information on the EU platform.
6. Build a clean data foundation: The future Digital Product Passport will build on repair and spare parts data — every clean entry pays off twice.

Repair instead of replace — a strategic shift

The Repair Directive is part of a larger package: the Ecodesign Regulation, the ban on „planned obsolescence", strengthened repairability labelling and the Digital Product Passport work together. For manufacturers and retailers, this means a structural shift — away from pure replacement logic and towards a product life-cycle approach in which after-sales, returns management and repair are tightly integrated.

Anyone who has seen repair as a cost item will in future need to demonstrate how repair is organised as service-side value creation — including capacities, turnaround times and customer experience.

Conclusion

The EU Right to Repair Directive is permanently reshaping the after-sales market. The German implementing act has applied since 23 July 2026, so operational structures must be in place now — from spare parts supply and repair processes to customer communication. Companies that start now gain not only regulatory certainty but also a position in the growing market for repair-related services.

PST supports manufacturers and importers in setting up and scaling professional returns and repair processes across Europe. Get in touch if you want to approach implementation in a structured way.