Europeans get ‘right to repair’ for some electrical goods

A person walks past a shop offering the repair of electronic equipment and domestic appliances in Berlin, Germany. The new ‘right to repair’ comes into force across the 27-nation bloc Monday, March 1, 2021. The posters read: ‘Repair - 24 hours’. — AP

BERLIN: Companies that sell refrigerators, washers, hairdryers or TVs in the European Union will need to ensure those appliances can be repaired for up to 10 years, to help reduce the vast mountain of electrical waste that piles up each year on the continent.

The “right to repair”, as it is sometimes called, comes into force across the 27-nation bloc Monday. It is part of a broader effort to cut the environmental footprint of manufactured goods by making them more durable and energy efficient.