EU Right to Repair: Latvia's Saeima Expected to Adopt Amendments by Year-End

Latvia's parliament, the Saeima, is considering amendments to the Consumer Rights Protection Law that would transpose European Union Directive 2024/1799 on the right to repair. The rules are meant to encourage people to have faulty goods fixed rather than thrown away. According to the Ministry of Economics, the regulation is expected to be adopted by the end of the year. The directive is to be applied by member states from 31 July 2026.

Why it matters

The EU is pursuing a circular economy that reduces waste and makes greater use of recycled raw materials. The directive forms part of a wider set of legislation, including Regulation 2024/1781 on ecodesign for sustainable products. That regulation requires goods to carry a digital product passport with details on materials and repair options, and bans the destruction of unsold clothing, footwear and accessories.

Figures cited in the source indicate that in the largest EU countries only one in five broken household appliances is repaired. In a Eurobarometer survey, 77% of EU residents said they would prefer to repair their electrical goods rather than discard them.

What the rules require

The directive covers washing machines and dishwashers, refrigerators, televisions, monitors, vacuum cleaners, smartphones and battery-powered products such as e-bikes. Laptops are not yet included, though the list is due to be expanded.

Key requirements:

• repairs must be offered at a reasonable price after the warranty ends;
• obstacles for independent repairers, including software locks, are prohibited;
• spare parts must be available at fair prices;
• information on repair options must be provided;
• if a consumer chooses repair during the warranty period, the warranty is extended by 12 months;
• a Europe-wide online platform for finding repair shops and sellers of refurbished goods is planned by 2028.

What it means for Latvian consumers

The Ministry of Economics says consumers will gain clearer rights to choose repair and a standardised European Repair Information Form showing price and completion time. In certain cases, they will be able to demand repair from the manufacturer even after the seller's liability period has ended.

The ministry stresses that the amendments do not regulate repair prices or set price caps; prices will continue to be determined by market participants.