Repairability index: new products will soon be affected

As of January 1st, 2021, certain electrical and electronic devices display their repairability index. Let us recall that this index, presented in the form of a logo representing a mechanician’s key surrounded by a gear and accompanied by a mark ranging from 0 to 10, allows consumers, as its name suggests, to know if such equipment can be repaired easily.

Reminder: It is up to the manufacturer to give the score, which is calculated by taking into consideration the following five criteria:
- the availability of the technical documentation necessary for repairing the device.
- the possibility of opening the device, the accessibility of the parts to be replaced and the tools necessary to do so.
- the availability period the spare parts in the market and their delivery times.
- the attractivity of the price of the spare parts compared to the amount money necessary for buying a new product.
- the specific criteria of the category of devices concerned.

Producers, importers, and distributors must communicate to sellers the reparability index of the devices, as well as to any person who so requests. For their part, the sellers are required to display this index, in a visible way, on each piece of equipment concerned (or related products) offered for sale in their store. Similarly, they must display the index visibly in the presentation of the product and close to its price when sold on the internet.

New products affected

Currently, five categories of devices are affected by this obligation, namely smartphones, laptops, televisions, window washing machines and electric lawn mowers.

As of November 5, 2022, the following new products must indicate their repairability index: wired vacuum cleaners, robot vacuum cleaners, non-wired vacuum cleaners, top-loading household washing machines, household dishwashers and pressure washers.

Attention: Businesspersons who do not comply with the obligation to display the reparability index will be liable to an administrative fine of up to €3,000 for a natural person and €15,000 for a company.