The Fight for the Right to Repair Around the World
The Repair Association is leading the fight for Right to Repair in the United States. But we also partner with organizations that are protecting your Right to Repair around the world. Here are some international repair advocates and some of their efforts toward making the world a more fixable place.
The European Union
Leaders
Selected Wins
Right to Repair Directive (2024)
In 2024, the European Union passed a Right to Repair Directive that marks a significant step forward for protecting the Right to Repair, though advocates continue to fight for more complete reforms. The directive successfully mandates reasonable prices for spare parts, extends repair obligations for certain products beyond the legal guarantee, and bans software practices that obstruct independent repairs. However, its narrow scope—limited to specific household products—means many consumer goods, especially short-lived electronics, remain uncovered. Additionally, vague definitions of "reasonable" pricing and exemptions for intellectual property concerns leave room for manufacturers to continue anti-repair practices. While repairability requirements may expand in the future, the directive currently misses opportunities to prioritize repairs over replacements or give independent repairers more access to in-warranty repairs, leaving much of the repair market still dependent on future legislative updates.
Currently, the directive applies to goods like washing machines, tumble dryers, dishwashers, refrigerators, televisions, smartphones, tablets, servers, welders, and the batteries of light transport vehicles such as e-bikes and e-scooters. Although vacuum cleaners are mentioned, they are not yet fully covered due to the absence of specific repairability requirements for that category. The directive's scope may expand in the future as more products are added under new repairability regulations, but at present, it excludes many common consumer electronics and short-lived products like small kitchen appliances, entertainment devices, and personal care items.
EU Ecodesign Regulation for Mobile Devices (2023)
In August 2023, the EU implemented Regulation (EU) 2023/1670, under the ecodesign Directive 2009/125/EC, setting ecodesign requirements for smartphones, tablets, and cordless phones. It mandates manufacturers to ensure spare parts and repair information availability. Key provisions include mandatory spare parts supply, accessible repair information, specific marking for plastic components, and anti-circumvention measures to ensure products don’t alter performance during testing.
France
Leaders
Selected Wins
Mandatory Availability of Spare Parts (2022)
Drawing on the same circular economy initiative that inspired the repairability index, France has passed a number of decrees requiring the mandatory availability of spare parts. In 2022, France required that laptops and smartphones have spare parts available for five years after the last device is placed on the market. In 2023, France extended this requirement to motorized DIY and gardening tools, sports and leisure articles including bicycles and e-bikes, as well as other kinds of motorized personal transport. Manufacturers must make spare parts available promptly (with bike wheels and pedals available immediately and batteries available within two years, for instance) and those parts must remain on the market for five or ten years, depending on the part.
Repairability Index (2020)
In France, a repairability score from 0-10 has to be displayed at the point of sale for smartphones, laptops, televisions, front-load washing machines, top-load washing machines, vacuum cleaners, and pressure washers. This repairability index, which passed in 2020 in article 16-I of law n° 2020-105, requires that manufacturers self-assess their products’ ease of disassembly, the availability of repair documentation and spare parts, and the pricing of spare parts. Gradually, this index will be integrated into and eventually replaced by a broader sustainability index. The French government is building a directory of repairability scores, which is currently voluntary but will become mandatory as the sustainability index rolls out.
Canada
Leaders
Selected Wins
Rising Support for Two National Right to Repair Bills (2024)
Canadian Parliament is in the late stages of consideration of two national Right to Repair bills, C-244 and C-294. Both seek to amend the Copyright Act in ways that will support repair. Currently, Canadian copyright law makes it illegal to circumvent software barriers to repair such as parts pairing and tractor payload file restrictions. C-244 would make it legal for individuals to get around these digital locks for the purposes of repair. C-294 similarly would enable individuals to get around digital locks—but for the purposes of making that device interoperable with other computer programs, devices, or components (which primarily aims at making third-party tractor parts useful but would also protect some kinds of repair). Both bills have passed the House of Commons and await final consideration in the Senate.
Quebec: Anti-Planned Obsolescence Legislation (2023)
Planned obsolescence is now illegal in Quebec, thanks to the passage of Bill 29, “an Act to protect consumers from planned obsolescence and to promote the durability, repairability and maintenance of goods.” The law prohibits planned obsolescence techniques, introduces a new legal warranty for appliances and computing devices, and mandates the availability of spare parts and information.
Oceania
Australia
Leaders
Selected Wins
Motor Vehicle Service and Repair Information Sharing Scheme (2021)
Car manufacturers now have to provide Australian independent repair technicians with all of the data and information they need to effect repairs, including manuals, service bulletins, wiring diagrams, and technical specifications. This information should make repairs cheaper and more widely available—aftermarket experts say that 1 in 10 cars brought to repair shops were affected by information unavailability. Failure to comply carries a $10 million fine for manufacturers.
Right to Repair Productivity Commission Inquiry (2021)
The Australian Productivity Commission conducted an inquiry into the barriers to repair faced by consumers and independent repairers, analyzing issues across multiple sectors including agricultural machinery, mobile phones, and consumer electronics. It proposes reforms to enhance consumer rights, including mandating manufacturers to provide access to repair information and spare parts. These changes aim to lower repair costs, improve product longevity, and reduce e-waste. A product labeling scheme for repairability and durability is also recommended to help consumers make informed choices.
New Zealand
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Selected Wins
Introduction of New Zealand’s First Right to Repair Bill (2024)
In April 2024, New Zealand Parliament began to consider a Right to Repair law that would change the Consumer Guarantees Act to require manufacturers to make spare parts and repair information available to consumers and independent repair shops.
Delivery of the Make It Our Right to Repair Submission (2022)
Repair Cafe Aotearoa delivered over 10,000 signatures on a petition calling on the Minister of the Environment to pass laws protecting the Right to Repair, support the growth of for-profit and community-based repair services through subsidies and product stewardship schemes, and ensure consumers have reliable access to information about product repairability. That petition led directly to the introduction of New Zealand’s first Right to Repair bill.
Africa
Uganda
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Selected Wins
Report on Repair Culture in the Rhino Camp Refugee Settlement Published (2024)
The Rhino Camp Refugee Settlement in Uganda houses over 1.5 million refugees—and hosts a vibrant repair cafe culture, sponsored by a group called Community Creativity for Development (CC4D). CC4D founder Matthew Lubari was the 2023 Fellow in the “Maintenance Cultures” Pathway of the international Maintainers group, and at the end of his fellowship, he reported on the state of repair culture in Rhino Camp.
South Africa
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Selected Wins
Guidelines for Competition in the South African Automotives Aftermarkets (2021)
Following complaints about anti-competitive conduct in automobile aftermarkets, the Competition Commission of South Africa began work in 2017 to respond, beginning with a voluntary Code of Conduct. When stakeholders failed to reach consensus, the Commission pursued an amendment of the Competition Act that would ensure that authorized repairers are obliged to use matching quality parts, not only original parts; that automotive manufacturers not be allowed to stop their suppliers from also supplying parts to independent distributors; and that independent repair shops have access to original parts, among other things.
South America
Brazil
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Selected Wins
Introduction of Brazil’s First Right to Repair Bill (2024)
Brazil introduced a bill (805/2024) that would prohibit planned obsolescence; protect consumers’ access to parts, tools, and information; and require manufacturers to repair products that have been previously repaired outside their authorized service networks. The bill was reported out of committee on September 25, 2024.
Colombia
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Selected Wins
Reintroduction of a Colombia National Right to Repair Bill (2024)
Senator Laura Fortich Sánchez introduced a bill in 2023 that aimed to protect against planned obsolescence of mass-marketed consumer electronics. The bill was reported once in the Senate but did not pass. In September 2024, Senator Sánchez reintroduced the bill.
Asia
India
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Selected Wins
Introduction of the Right to Repair Consumer Portal (2023)
The Right to Repair consumer portal in India aims to provide a platform for information about repair and maintenance of products sold in India in four categories: Farm equipment, mobile and electronic products, consumer durables, and automobiles. Along with the introduction of the portal, the Ministry of Consumer Affairs announced the establishment of a committee to develop a Right to Repair framework.
Taiwan
Leaders
Selected Wins
In May 2023, the Taiwan Ministry of the Environment announced a pilot of a repairability scoring system, implementing the French Repairability Index for Taiwanese consumers with slight modifications for localization. The Taiwanese system, for instance, requires independent review of manufacturers’ self-reported scores. The largest Taiwanese testing, certification, and inspection company, SGS, now offers independent repairability index calculation services to Taiwanese manufacturers.