Berlin, July 10, 2026
On July 10, 2026, the Bundesrat approved the Right to Repair law passed by the Bundestag at the end of June, which grants consumers a right to repairable products and available spare parts for items including smartphones and coffee machines.
With the approval of the upper chamber, the way is clear for a new regulation aimed at reducing electronic waste and extending the lifespan of devices. The law provides that manufacturers must in future produce repairable products and enable consumers to fix defects themselves or have them fixed at low cost.
As the Bundesrat explained in its brief announcement, a clear principle applies: "Lässt sich eine Ware nicht reparieren, obwohl das vernünftigerweise zu erwarten wäre, stellt auch das einen Sachmangel dar". Going forward, the lack of repairability will thus be legally treated as equivalent to a defect.