EU Directive extends repair rights to importers and distributors

The European Union has adopted Directive 2024/1799 on repair of goods, requiring Member States to implement obligations by 31 July 2026; importers may be held responsible where manufacturers or their authorised representatives are absent.

• Main action: The Directive grants consumers a right to have defective products repaired (including consumer-caused damage) and establishes a cascade of liability: manufacturer (primarily) → authorised representative (if manufacturer outside the EU) → importer → distributor; Member States must implement the Directive into national law by 31 July 2026.
• Background/details: The repair obligation covers products listed under Ecodesign Directive 2009/125 (e.g., household washing machines, dryers, dishwashers, refrigerators, electronic displays, vacuum cleaners, servers and data storage products, mobile devices, welding equipment and goods with light-vehicle batteries). Obligated parties must publish repair-service information free of charge and a pan-European online European Repair Platform is expected to become operational in 2027.