The Right To Repair Electrical And Electronic Goods In UK

What Is The Right To Repair Law?

Firstly let us understand the legal aspect as there is now a specific law which applies to some, but not all, new electrical and electronic equipment sold in the UK.

The Ecodesign for Energy-Related Products and Energy Information Regulations 2021 (SI 2021 No. 745), sometimes referred to as the “Right to Repair Regulations”, were made on 18 June 2021, accompanied by Explanatory Memorandum. Most of the provisions came into force on 1 July 2021.

Although broadly welcomed many people feel the law is too lenient on manufacturers and not far reaching enough in terms of the number of products it applies to.

What Goods Does Right To Repair Apply To?

The main category areas supported by the 'Right to Repair' are as follows:

• Electric motors
• Electronic displays
• Household washing-machines/washer dryers, dishwashers, and fridges
• Commercial refrigeration
• Welding equipment

There is a grace period of up to 2 years which will be reached in July 2023. When the grace period expires manufacturers must make spare parts available for 7-10 years after the last unit for a given model is produced.

Why Is Right To Repair Important?

There are several factors driving the new law which are mostly based around minimising waste and maximising energy efficiency. It is widely accepted that the increase in E Waste is harmful to the environment and places excess strain on recycling efforts. There are many factors to consider when examining the environment impact of even the most basic household appliance. Firstly there is the carbon footprint associated with production and sale of the item. When the item enters service there is the ongoing impact of operation and maintenance. Finally, as the item reaches end of life, there is safe disposal and recycling.

By ensuring goods are produced efficiently and supported by the manufacturer for a lengthy period it is hoped the environmental impact can be better managed. 

Is This The End For Planned Obsolescence?

It is hoped that the new law will eliminate the practice of designing products to break quickly or become obsolete in the short to mid-term. We all appreciate the frustration of expensive repairs, manufacturers can make it difficult to diagnose faults by not widely circulating engineering documents such as wiring diagrams and bill of materials. Even once correctly diagnosed OEM parts have often been difficult to source and expensive to buy. This often led to the practise of 'Authorised Repairs' by manufacturers own technicians which created an effective monopoly on the aftermarket.

If this situation improves there are multiple benefits for households and businesses.

What Are The Benefits Of Repair Vs. Replacement?

There are many benefits to repairing electrical and electronic goods:

• Environmental - goods are not immediately disposed, the service life is extended
• Skills are learned and maintained - basic hand skills and fault finding may experience a resurgence which can only be beneficial to the wider economy
• Economic - for householders and business owners there is an obvious benefit to replacing an inexpensive part compared to a complete appliance

What Are We Doing To Help?

Our drive during 2023 has been to source more electrical and electronic spares which can be used in appliances and equipment found in the home or workplace.

Beyond the opportunity to increase our sales this forms part of our wider efforts to support the community and pass on much needed skills. The Right To Repair is something most engineers and technicians can appreciate.

In many instances OEM parts are not essential. So whilst there is a saving in sourcing a cheaper alternative it is important to understand there is a minimum viable price for a product to be reliable. Many cheap imports do not undergo rigorous testing and certification processes. The aftermarket can be something of a lottery in terms of quality and there can be a false economy in using spare parts which are essentially 'too cheap'.

Our product lines from EMAS can assist with finding reliable alternatives for faulty rocker switches, microswitches, neon indicators and more. All common points of failure on items from vacuum cleaners to commercial display refrigeration.

We also have a range of spare parts suitable for ovens and kilns which can add many years to the service life of goods.

The Novus equipment we sell is often used to replace a faulty controller supplied by another manufacturer. In the past the consumer had two choices in replacing a failed temperature controller. Buy the 'latest model' from a Leading Brand or buy a cheap unbranded model from the Far East. We cover the middle ground by offering the right combination of price and quality.