EU forces manufacturers to supply spare parts

The EU has adopted new regulations for electrical appliances. Manufacturers will be required to provide spare parts and provide information on repairs.

This article is part of the special feature " Repair instead of discard".

EU member states have agreed on new ecodesign guidelines for household appliances . Refrigerators, washing machines, dishwashers, electronic displays , and light bulbs are not only to consume less energy; for the first time, there are also requirements on how the appliances should become more resource-efficient. Manufacturers will be obligated to provide spare parts for at least seven years and make repair instructions freely available.

Furthermore, the devices should be designed in the future so that replacement with conventional tools is possible without damage. LED light sources may no longer be permanently installed in lamps, but must be replaceable.

The new rules are likely to come into force in September 2021, subject to approval by the EU Parliament and member states.

Repairs secure existence

The background is this: Many electrical appliances end up in the trash prematurely, even though they could be repaired . Independent repair shops often can't get spare parts from manufacturers, or only at significantly higher costs. This allows manufacturers to dictate the market. Spare parts should be much cheaper and repair instructions freely available , demands Detlef Vangerow, a master radio and television technician from Reutlingen . "Repairs secure the existence of repair shops and preserve technical expertise in Germany! And spare parts are the key to repairs."

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In October 2018, Vangerow, commissioned by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy , assessed the EU proposals as an expert . The repair specialist is pleased with the outcome of his work: "We tackled a tough issue. We made significant progress during the hearing." The craftsman was supported by the Round Table Repair initiative , an alliance of environmental organizations, consumer protection groups, and representatives from business, industry, and academia. The Green Party also advocates for the right to repair.

Good for the environment and your wallet

Vangerow and his fellow campaigners had to fight to get their cause met: "At first, it looked as if everything would be overturned and a watered-down version of the directive adopted," he reports. "But I believe the political will from other EU countries largely supported our demands. The EU wanted to get down to brass tacks ."

With the introduction of a repair clause in design law , the German government also improved competition in the spare parts sector in September 2018. However, according to Vangerow's observations, Germany did not fare well with regard to the EU regulation and tended to drag its feet.

The craftsman and his colleagues don't consider their efforts complete yet : Smartphones, computers, and tablets, in particular, are resource-intensive to manufacture, yet often have a limited lifespan and usability because security and software updates are no longer available. Therefore, not only the hardware but also the available software is crucial. "In practical terms, it should be defined for each individual product group how long security and software updates must be available," says Vangerow.

Please protect resources also for products that do not consume energy!

Consumer advocates are pleased with the new standards: "This is not only good for the environment, but also for consumers' wallets," says Klaus Müller, CEO of the Federation of German Consumer Organizations. "The ball is now in the court of the EU member states. They must set standards for resource conservation and expand the Ecodesign Directive ." He demands that all relevant product groups be covered by the EU Ecodesign Directive.

Vangerow agrees: "The rules should also be introduced for products that don't consume energy ." He believes there is also a need for action regarding office and household furniture, shoes, and leisure goods. "Products should generally be durable, repairable, and recyclable," he emphasizes, appealing to the EU Commission to further expand resource conservation in the interest of both skilled trades and the environment.