New EU directive promotes device repairs, but Latvia faces shortage of specialists and parts
New EU rules that took effect on July 31 aim to encourage consumers to repair broken devices instead of replacing them. An industry representative notes that modern technology has made repairs more complex and expensive.
As of July 31 this year, new European Union rules have come into force aimed at encouraging consumers to repair faulty products rather than immediately replacing them with new ones. This was discussed on the show "Spried ar Delfi" by Agnese Caica, Head of the After-Sales Service Department at LMT Retail & Logistics.
She noted that the possibility of repairing broken devices has always existed, but technological advancement has made this process significantly more complex and expensive than before. Modern devices are technologically more complicated, requiring more specific knowledge and equipment for repairs.
Question of readiness
The show raised the question of whether Latvia has enough qualified repair technicians and whether the necessary spare parts are available on the market for the new EU directive to function in practice. This is one of the main challenges in implementing the new regulation, since without adequate infrastructure — both in terms of human resources and spare parts availability — the directive's goal of promoting repair over disposal may be difficult to achieve.
The new EU rules are part of a broader initiative to reduce electronic waste and promote more sustainable consumption, giving consumers a stronger legal basis and motivation to choose repair over replacement.
