What They Say
The European Parliament has made two key votes on consumer products.
- Personal electronics sold online and in stores must clearly be labeled with a repairability score, out of 10.
- Device makers—notably those of laptops and smartphones—must extend the lifespans of their products.
France and Austria are acting as early adoptors for these ideas. We reported on France a little while ago. (France confronts ‘planned obsolescence’ with repairability rating)
Austria has adopted a fiscal approach—which has precedent for other products, the report said. As recently as late September, the Austrian government slashed the value-added tax (VAT) on small repairs of select items in half. Similar plans are expected for personal electronic devices—while potentially subsidizing or reimbursing a portion of the repair costs. These measures aim to make repairs cheaper and thus preferable to replacement.
What We Think
Things take time to grind through the processes in the EU, but the bloc has been successful by pushing ahead with high standards. Global brands want access to such a valuable market, so tend to respond to EU regulations by adopting them. Thus, the EU often pushes the boundaries in terms of consumer protection. (BR)
