The Ministry of Justice and Digital Affairs has prepared a new draft law. It grants consumers more rights. Manufacturers must ensure that spare parts and repair options are available.
The aim of the draft is to make electronic products more durable. Additionally, it seeks to increase their repairability. Liisa Pakosta, the Minister of Justice and Digital Affairs, says that currently, repairing a household appliance is often more expensive than buying a new one.
Manufacturer liability will be extended to three years. If a product requires repair for something that is not user-inflicted damage, the manufacturer must cover the repair cost. The manufacturer's warranty will also be extended from two to three years.
Jüri Rütman from Netiabi service center says that people are interested in repairs. However, sometimes buying a new device is more reasonable. The availability of spare parts depends on the age of the device. For products up to ten years old, spare parts are usually available.
Pakosta says that the new draft law should alleviate the spare parts problem. Manufacturers must ensure that spare parts exist. Currently, there have been situations where spare parts are unavailable, especially in Estonia due to its small market.
According to Pakosta, the draft will not affect Estonian manufacturers. Estonian sellers will likely start using more manufacturers from the European Union. If a product breaks within three years, the manufacturer or seller must repair it. Selling products without organized repairs will become less effective for sellers.