What are the Ecodesign Regulations?
The Ecodesign Regulations are a set of UK laws designed to extend the lifespan of certain household and commercial electrical products. They achieve this by setting minimum standards for manufacturers regarding energy use and product design, which ultimately benefits you, the consumer. These rules ensure that appliances are more durable, use less energy, and, most importantly for repairs, require manufacturers to make spare parts and maintenance information available for up to 10 years, which is often referred to as the right to repair.
For more information, read What are ecodesign rules?
What is the consumer right to repairs under the Consumer Rights Act 2015?
The CRA 2015 is the primary law that protects you when you buy goods, services, or digital content in Great Britain. Under the CRA 2015, goods must be:
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of satisfactory quality
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fit for a purpose that you make known to the seller
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as described (including matching any sample or model you saw before buying)
If the goods you buy are faulty because they fail to meet these standards, you have a statutory right to a remedy. This remedy is usually either a repair or a replacement, and you can state which one you’d prefer. The seller must carry out the repair or provide the replacement at no cost to you, within a reasonable time, and without causing you significant inconvenience.
For a detailed explanation of your statutory rights, including what constitutes satisfactory quality, read Consumer rights. To understand the full rules and timelines for claiming a refund, see Returning and refunding items.
What is the statutory right to repair for appliances?
The Ecodesign Regulations complement the CRA 2015 by guaranteeing that spare parts for certain new appliances are available to both professional repairers and consumers, which helps extend the life of the product.
Which appliances are covered?
The products that the Ecodesign Regulations apply to, and for which spare parts must be made available to consumers, include:
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dishwashers
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washer-dryers
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washing machines
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refrigerators
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freezers
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electronic displays (including televisions) for home use
For more information on the products covered, read What are ecodesign rules?
How do spare parts requirements work?
Under the Ecodesign Regulations, manufacturers, importers, or authorised representatives of certain electronic products must make available to professional repairers spare parts for a minimum of seven to 10 years after placing the last unit of the model on the market.
Spare parts must also be made available to consumers; however, the list of parts available to consumers isn't as extensive as the parts available to professional repairers. Similarly, manufacturers, importers, or authorised representatives don't need to make as much information regarding repairs available to consumers.
The repairs using such spare parts also need to be possible to complete using commonly available tools, making such repairs more accessible to consumers.
Remember that the Ecodesign Regulations do not create an absolute right for you to have a repair from the manufacturer, but simply allow greater access to spare parts for third-party repairs.
Time limits on spare parts
Depending on the type of appliance, the spare parts must be available for a minimum of seven to 10 years. This time period starts when the last product of that particular model of the appliance is on the market. This means that consumers will generally have longer than this to repair their electronic products, depending on when they bought the product.
What else can consumers expect from the Ecodesign Regulations?
Under the Ecodesign Regulations, consumers can also expect:
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smarter energy labels - labels will be displayed on a scale ranging from A to G. This is intended to encourage consumers to purchase energy-efficient products, whilst making it easier for consumers to understand the scale. Consumers will be able to scan a QR code on the label to get additional energy information
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higher energy efficiency standards - this means that certain electrical products will have to meet high minimum efficiency requirements to pass
Is there a right to repair for mobile devices?
Mobile phones, tablets, and cordless phones were not covered by the 2021 Ecodesign Regulations for white goods. However, a comprehensive legal shift in repair rights is being introduced through the European Union (EU)'s Right to Repair Directive (specifically Directive (EU) 2024/1799). While this is an EU law that Member States have until 31 July 2026 to transpose, it also affects UK manufacturers who are supplying or distributing consumer goods in the EU market. Such manufacturers will need to comply with this EU law.
The EU Right to Repair Directive applies to a range of consumer products, including mobile phones and tablets, and is set to strengthen your repair rights by:
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requiring manufacturers to offer repairs for defects that occur even after the statutory warranty period has expired (unless repair is impossible)
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prohibiting manufacturers from using contractual clauses or technical means (like software locks) that obstruct the repair of the product, which means warranties can't be voided for compliant repairs
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extending the statutory warranty by one year if you choose a repair over a replacement
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requiring manufacturers to make spare parts and repair manuals available for up to 10 years
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requiring manufacturers to disclose the product's repairability score
If you have a question about new repair rights or need help resolving a dispute over a faulty product, do not hesitate to Ask a lawyer.
