Right to Repair in Germany: What Is Changing for Consumers and Manufacturers

This article describes the legal situation in Germany from 2026 onwards. It is based on Directive (EU) 2024/1799, which is implemented through national legislation in each EU Member State. Specific rules and consumer rights may therefore differ from country to country.

Since the end of July 2026, new rules promoting repairs have applied in Germany. Manufacturers of certain product groups must offer repair options, make spare parts available for longer periods and provide standardised information on the cost, duration and conditions of a repair upon request.

Repairs have also been strengthened within the statutory warranty period. The aim is to make continued use of a defective product more attractive than immediately replacing it.

The key points at a glance

The new rules are intended to:

• make repairs easier to access,

• keep spare parts available for longer,

• provide consumers with clearer information about costs and conditions,

• extend the lifespan of resource-intensive products,

• reduce electronic waste and unnecessary resource consumption.

Which products are covered?

The rules currently apply in particular to:

• smartphones, tablets and cordless phones,

• washing machines, washer-dryers and tumble dryers,

• dishwashers,

• refrigerators and fridge-freezers,

• televisions and monitors,

• vacuum cleaners,

• servers and certain data-storage products,

• certain types of welding equipment.

Additional product groups may be added in the future if the European Union introduces corresponding requirements for repairability and spare-parts availability.

The selection follows a clear principle. The rules primarily cover products that contain significant amounts of raw materials, energy and technical components, are used in large numbers and are frequently discarded even though repair would generally be possible.

Repair instead of immediate replacement

Many consumers are familiar with the problem: a smartphone battery loses capacity, a washing machine breaks down or a vacuum cleaner stops working. A repair may be technically possible, but it is often expensive, complicated or difficult to access.

Spare parts may be unavailable, product housings may be glued shut and manufacturers may already be focused on the next model. In many cases, replacement therefore appears easier than repair.

This is precisely where the new rules intervene. Manufacturers of certain product groups must enable repairs and provide spare parts over longer periods. Consumers should also be able to identify available repair options and understand the likely costs more easily.

The aim is not to require every product to be repaired. It is to reduce avoidable new purchases and make it easier to continue using existing products.

Durability becomes a policy objective

For decades, consumer law focused primarily on purchase, warranty and replacement. The right to repair now places greater emphasis on extending the useful life of products.

When the European Union adopted the right-to-repair directive in 2024, the immediate focus was on spare parts, repair services and consumer rights. However, the decision goes further: a major economic region is not only regulating the sale of new products, but also creating better conditions for their continued use.

This changes the previous direction. Products are not expected to last indefinitely, but durability is once again becoming an economic, political and environmental objective.

Why longer use matters

Manufacturing new products requires raw materials, energy and complex supply chains. A smartphone contains numerous metals and other materials sourced from different regions of the world. A washing machine combines steel, plastics, electronics and the energy used in its production within a single appliance.

When a product is replaced prematurely, not only the device itself but also the resources embedded in it are lost.

According to the European Commission, millions of tonnes of avoidable waste are generated in the European Union each year because consumer goods are replaced earlier than necessary. Longer product lifespans can therefore help use raw materials more efficiently and reduce waste.

A perspective from Japan: Mottainai

The idea of using objects carefully and for as long as possible is not new.

In Japan, the concept of mottainai describes a respectful approach to materials and the avoidance of waste. It reflects the idea that an object should not be judged solely by its market price. The raw materials, labour and time invested in it also have value.

Europe has not adopted this concept directly. The right to repair primarily pursues economic, environmental and consumer-policy objectives. Nevertheless, the development points in a similar direction: away from a simple replacement model and towards longer use of existing products.

Repairability becomes an innovation factor

Innovation has long been associated mainly with developing new products and functions. The right to repair broadens this perspective.

A product can also be innovative if it:

• can be opened more easily,

• uses replaceable components,

• is supplied with spare parts for longer,

• is documented clearly,

• can be repaired at a reasonable cost.

Repairability is therefore becoming a factor in product development and competition. Manufacturers must increasingly consider how a product can continue to be used after a defect occurs.

Conclusion

The right to repair creates more than new consumer rules. It strengthens repair services, improves access to spare parts and makes durability a more important part of modern product development.

The extent to which the market will change will only become clear over the coming years. The direction, however, is clear: products should not only be sold, but also maintained and used for longer.

Sources: Directive (EU) 2024/1799 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 June 2024 on common rules promoting the repair of goods; Act implementing Directive (EU) 2024/1799 on promoting the repair of goods, Federal Law Gazette 2026 I No. 212 of 22 July 2026; German Civil Code, in particular Sections 475e and 479a to 479g.

AI Transparency