- Household washing machines and household washer-dryers for a minimum of ten years[1];
- Household dishwashers for a minimum of ten years (seven years for some parts for which access can be restricted to professional repairers)[2]; and
- Electronic displays for a minimum of seven years.[3]
The EU regulations distinguish between repairs that can be commonly performed by purchasers and repairs that should be performed by professional repair workers. The washing machine regulation, for instance, requires manufacturers to make available to individuals and professional repairers the following parts: door, door hinge and seals, other seals, door locking assembly and plastic peripherals such as detergent dispensers. The regulation, however, requires manufacturers to make other parts available only to repair professionals.[4]
The regulations also require manufacturers to ensure that spare parts can be replaced using commonly available tools and without causing permanent damage to the appliance. Moreover, manufacturers must provide a list of spare parts and the procedure for ordering the parts on a free website available to the public. While these regulations apply to the home appliance industry, on March 1, 2020, the European Commission announced that it will be introducing proposed legislation that will create a right to repair for electronics and other products.[5]
- ↑ Commission Regulation (EU) 2019/2023, laying down eco-design requirements for household washing machines and household washer-dryers pursuant to Directive 2009/125/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council and amending Commission Regulation (EC) No. 1275/2008 and repealing Commission Regulation No. 1015/2010 (European Union), https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32019R2023&from=EN.
- ↑ Commission Regulation (EU) 2019/2022, laying down eco-design requirements for household dishwashers pursuant to Directive 2009/125/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council and amending Commission Regulation (EC) No. 1275/2008 and repealing Commission Regulation No. 1016/2010 (European Union), https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32019R2022&from=EN.
- ↑ Commission Regulation (EU) 2019/2021, laying down eco-design requirements for electronic displays pursuant to Directive 2009/125/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council and amending Commission Regulation (EC) No. 1275/2008 and repealing Commission Regulation No. 642/2009 (European Union), https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32019R2021&from=EN.
- ↑ Those parts include motor and motor brushes; transmission between motor and drum; pumps; shock absorbers and springs; washing drum, drum spider and related ball bearings (separately or bundled); heaters and heating elements, including heat pumps (separately or bundled); piping and related equipment including all hoses, valves, filters and aquastops (separately or bundled); printed circuit boards; electronic displays; pressure switches; thermostats and sensors; and software and firmware including reset software.
- ↑ European Commission, Circular Economy Action Plan: For a cleaner and more competitive Europe, https://ec.europa.eu/environment/circular-economy/pdf/new_circular_economy_action_plan.pdf.
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