Germany to enforce EU “right to repair” for appliances, phones and e-bikes
Germany to implement the EU right to repair, requiring manufacturers to offer affordable repairs and spare parts for appliances, phones, e-bikes and other devices.
The German government is preparing to transpose the EU “right to repair” into national law, obliging manufacturers to make a wide range of consumer products repairable at reasonable cost. The measure covers household appliances, mobile devices, storage media and personal mobility devices and grants buyers explicit repair rights that extend beyond standard warranty periods. Lawmakers say the rule aims to boost product lifespans and support a circular economy while setting clear remedies for consumers when repairability is denied.
Devices covered under the new repair obligations
Household machines such as washing machines, tumble dryers, dishwashers and refrigerators are included, alongside vacuum cleaners and a broad set of electronic goods. The list also embraces consumer electronics like mobile phones, tablets and computers without keyboards, as well as external data storage devices. Personal electric mobility items such as e-scooters and e-bikes are explicitly named, with the full catalogue attached to the EU directive that Germany must transpose.
Duration of repair commitments and spare parts availability
Manufacturers must guarantee repairability for what the law describes as the “usual service life” of a product, which varies by product category. For example, washing machines are expected to remain serviceable for roughly ten years, while smartphones and speakers are given a seven-year reference period. The obligation to supply spare parts and the tools needed for repair runs for that same lifecycle and begins from the date a model’s production is discontinued, not from its market launch.
Costs, pricing and consumer remedies
Producers may offer free repairs or charge a fee, but charges must be “reasonable” and not deliberately discourage consumers from seeking repair. If a device deemed repairable cannot in practice be repaired, it is treated as defective under consumer law. In such cases buyers can demand replacement, return the product for a refund, or keep the item and seek a price reduction; these remedies sit alongside existing seller warranties and statutory guarantees.
Design constraints and software-based barriers to repair
The new rule requires products to be designed with repair in mind, which tackles practices such as permanently sealed batteries or software that blocks independent repair work. If a manufacturer intentionally designs a device so that parts cannot be exchanged or uses software to prevent repair, it risks breaching the repair obligations. The provision aims to prevent planned obsolescence and ensure technical and digital barriers do not undermine consumers’ repair rights.
Business-to-business exceptions and contractual limits
The law applies to all purchase contracts but provides special rules for commercial transactions between businesses. Companies may, under certain conditions and through contractual terms or general conditions, exclude repairability obligations for business-to-business sales. The extended statutory warranty benefits that apply to consumer repairs do not automatically translate to business clients, and the three-year warranty extension that can accompany consumer repairs is not available in the same way for firms.
Government costs and reactions from industry and consumer groups
Berlin estimates a one-off cost to industry of roughly €113 million, mainly tied to expanding repair services, with recurring annual compliance costs estimated at about €1.3 million for information duties and administrative work. Industry associations generally welcome the sustainability goals but warn of added burdens and legal uncertainty, particularly around the definition of “repairability” and what constitutes a reasonable repair price. Consumer groups and advocacy organisations have pushed for further measures, calling for a national repair bonus and a reduced VAT rate for repair services to make fixes cheaper and more attractive.
The implementation deadline set by Brussels requires member states to transpose the directive by the end of July 2026, and the federal justice ministry has indicated Germany will adopt the measures largely unchanged. Policymakers frame the rule as a tool to lengthen product use, cut resource demand and reduce waste across the economy.
As the law moves from Brussels into national statute, consumers and independent repairers will be watching for detailed implementing rules, especially on spare-parts availability, permissible pricing and enforcement mechanisms. The practical impact will hinge on how strictly authorities define repairability and how readily manufacturers adapt product design and service networks to the new obligations.
