Free repair obligations for sellers or manufacturers, as brought into play by the EU Commission outside of the warranty rules, are "neither fair nor economically realistic".

This is the assessment of the Advisory Council for Consumer Questions in an analysis for the Federal Ministry of Consumer Protection, where the committee is based.

"Ultimately, the goal of promoting sustainability cannot be carried out solely on the backs of industry," warn the experts.

Katja Gelinsky

Business correspondent in Berlin

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Nevertheless, they suggest making companies more responsible.

So far there has been “no pronounced repair culture”, not even among consumers.

Sustainability plays a relatively minor role in purchasing decisions, as a study on consumer behavior shows.

For most of those surveyed, repairability is not a decisive factor in the purchase.

Nevertheless, the majority would like repairs to be funded, for example through a label with information on whether and how well a device can be repaired.

According to the report, an adjustment screw for more sustainability could be an extension of the liability for defects.

It would be conceivable to also assume a defect if environmental and sustainability criteria, such as repairability, are not met.

Conversely, compliance with ecodesign rules can justify an assumption that the product is free of defects.

Obligation to supply spare parts

The Advisory Council pleads for an obligation to supply spare parts not only to specialist repair shops, but also to end customers, "as far as possible and safe".

In addition, rules should be made on the prices of spare parts.

It should be checked whether a limitation to "reasonable" prices is economically necessary and legally possible.

Corporate costs and yields could provide guidance.

Another recommendation to the EU Commission is to look directly at consumer claims against manufacturers in order to enforce sustainability standards.

Obligations such as a repair service are also conceivable as part of the manufacturer's guarantee.

Importers and wholesalers should also be held more accountable.

The panel also advocates strengthening consumer protection organizations to enforce repair rights more effectively.