The right to repair becomes law: what changes for Italian consumers

Published 2026-10-22

The European Parliament has approved new legislation that introduces the "right to repair" in all member states, including Italy. The main objective of this initiative is to reduce waste and promote more sustainable consumption by encouraging citizens to repair their electronic devices instead of purchasing new ones.

Thanks to these new rules, manufacturers will be required to repair products covered by legal warranty even after the standard period has expired, provided the cost of repair is lower than that of replacement. Furthermore, companies will have to make spare parts and necessary tools more accessible and reasonably priced for independent repairers and consumers themselves.

One of the most important innovations concerns transparency. Manufacturers will no longer be able to prevent the use of second-hand or refurbished spare parts, nor will they be able to refuse to repair a device simply because it was previously opened by an unauthorized center. This change aims to break the monopoly of official service centers, which are often very expensive.

For Italian consumers, this means being able to extend the life of smartphones, tablets, and household appliances more easily and affordably. The legislation also includes an obligation for manufacturers to provide clear information on estimated repair times and costs, allowing people to make more informed choices before deciding to throw an item away.

Italy will now have to adapt its national legislation to implement these European directives. It is expected that the repair market will grow significantly, creating new job opportunities for local technicians and contributing to a significant reduction in the electronic waste that ends up in landfills every year.

Sources: Pasquale Pillitteri

More Italy news

All Italy news · News by country