EU posts draft Right to Repair rules for cell phones, tablets

European regulators have published draft rules concerning new repair requirements for phones and tablets. New rules have been pushed by Right to Repair advocates in Europe including the Restart Project, Environmental Coalition on Standards (ECOS), and Repair.eu. The goal is to improve the repairability and durability of electronics, in order to to reduce electronic waste and the pollution associated with new manufacturing. Highlights from the draft proposal include:

• Requiring that manufacturers stock and sell at least 15 different spare parts for five years for “professional repairers” after a device first goes on sale.
• Mandating that consumers can purchase displays, chargers, back covers, and SIM or memory card trays, also for five years.
• Requiring that batteries will either need to be provided to consumers for five years, or they will have to meet very high standards for longevity — with much more charge capacity after years of use than is typical for current products.

The draft rules will be open for comment until September 28. The EU Commission will then finalize the regulations, like by the end of this calendar year. Right to Repair advocates are calling for better access to repair materials for consumers, removing special access for those deemed “professional” repairers.