Briefing
Making goods more durable and easier to repair
Making goods more durable and easier to repair
Consumers should be able to benefit from durable, high-quality products that can be repaired and upgraded.
MEPs therefore propose measures to tackle planned obsolescence for tangible goods and for software in a non-legislative resolution being put to the vote on Tuesday.
The recommendations include:
- robust, easily repaired and quality products: “minimum resistance criteria” to be established for each product category from the design stage,
- if a repair takes longer than a month, the guarantee should be extended by the same period,
- member states should give incentives to the production of durable and repairable products, boosting repairs and second-hand sales - this could help to create jobs and reduce waste,
- essential components, such as batteries and LEDs, should not be fixed into products, unless for safety reasons,
- spare parts which are indispensable for the proper and safe functioning of the goods should be made available “at a price commensurate with the nature and life-time of the product”,
- an EU-wide definition of “planned obsolescence” and a system that could test and detect the “built-in obsolescence” should be introduced, as well as “appropriate dissuasive measures for producers”.
Procedure: Non-legislative resolution
Debate: Monday 3 July 2017
Vote: Tuesday 4 July 2017
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