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EU Right to Repair Directive: what professional sellers need to know
Summary: A participant discusses the EU’s new rules on the right to repair, which will come into force on July 31, 2026. Sellers operating in the EU will have to offer buyers a choice between repair and replacement for defective goods or goods not as described, with a 12-month warranty extension in the event of repair. Some products listed in Annex II of the Directive will require further obligations, including the availability of spare parts and repair services. Sellers are encouraged to update their procedures and inform buyers about the repair options available.
If you sell goods to buyers within the EU, you may need to update your repair information and buyer communications to comply with the EU's new right to repair rules.
Starting July 31, 2026, when a buyer contacts you about a defective item and asks for a solution, you must offer the choice between repair and replacement. If repair is chosen, the warranty period is extended by 12 months. This applies to all general goods.
What you need to do
General goods:
If you are a professional seller and offer goods to buyers in the EU and a buyer uses their legal rights during the warranty period, you have the following responsibilities:
● If an item is reported as defective or not as described, you must offer the buyer the choice between repair and replacement;
● If a buyer chooses repair, the warranty period for the item is extended by another 12 months. You must also inform the buyer of this extension before carrying out the repair.
We recommend reviewing and updating your warranty procedures and any published policies so they reflect these changes.
Purchases made before July 31, 2026 are not subject to these requirements.
Additional requirements for certain products listed in Annex II:
Additional requirements may apply to certain products in the categories listed in Annex II of the Directive, including washing machines, washer-dryers, refrigerators, dishwashers, televisions, vacuum cleaners, dryers, welding equipment, smartphones, tablets, cordless phones, servers and storage products, and products that include batteries for light electric vehicles (such as e-bikes, electric scooters, and similar devices).
These requirements apply to manufacturers based in the EU. If the manufacturer is located outside the EU, the repair obligation must be taken on by a party within the EU. This will be the manufacturer's authorized representative in the EU or, if there is none, the importer or, if there is no importer, the distributor.
For goods listed in Annex II
● Check the EU ecodesign rules applicable to your products to find out which spare parts, repair information, and services you must offer and how long they must remain available.
● Offer repair services for the full duration of the repair obligation.
● Post repair information on eBay, including details on coverage, repair options, and typical prices. You can make this information available in the Comments or seller notes section, in the item description field, and/or in the order confirmation email.
Even if the Annex II repair obligations do not apply to you, you may still help buyers by letting them know who to contact for any repairs.
Thanks for choosing to sell on eBay.
