Ministry of Consumer Affairs will label electrical and electronic products according to their reparability

The aim of the Ministry of Consumer Affairs is to incentivise reparability instead of obsolescence in both consumers and manufacturers as a way to reduce the ecological footprint.

This was announced on Monday morning by the Minister for Consumer Affairs, Alberto Garzón, at a conference organised by the New Economy Forum on the occasion of World Consumer Rights Day. During his speech, Alberto Garzón explained that his ministerial department is working on two parallel lines of action. The first is the comprehensive plan on healthy consumption, which includes all the measures related to the promotion of habits that are beneficial to health. Secondly, his department is going to introduce a raft of measures, including the Reparability Index, to promote sustainable consumption. Alberto Garzón explained that this is a right of consumers to help take the appropriate decision.

Reparability Index

The Reparability Index consists of a classification of electrical and electronic equipment on a scale of zero to ten points granted according to five objective criteria. To calculate the index, the documentation provided by the manufacturer on the repair and ease of disassembling the product will be taken into account. The availability of spare parts, the relationship between the price of the spare parts and of the original product will also be included in making the calculation, along with other specific criteria according to the category of electrical and electronic equipment (assistance and ease of resetting software).

Each criterion will have a maximum of 20 points. The Reparability Index is calculated by adding up all the points and dividing the result by ten. The manufacturers or importers will calculate the index of the electrical and electronic equipment in accordance with the parameters established. The Ministry of Consumer Affairs and Market Oversight authorities will supervise the correct labelling.

France introduced this system in 2020, following a recommendation from the European Parliament. Spain will be only the second country to introduce the measure.

Circular Economy Strategy

According to Alberto Garzón, the Reparability Index contributes to promoting the circular nature of the economy, ensuring that the maximum benefit is taken from purchases. In addition, this helps generate less waste, fewer emissions and ensures lower demand for natural resources. The measure also seeks to give consumers information on their right to repair and not to throw a product away that has stopped working but which may remain useful.

The Reparability Index, which will be accompanied by actions to raise awareness, creates an opportunity for the industry, which will now have a new incentive to innovate in the eco-design and development of repairable, upgradable, sustainable technology and avoid obsolescence. The Ministry of Consumer Affairs appreciates that this gives an edge to companies that can differentiate using criteria of sustainability in a context of growing consumer awareness of the environmental impact of their decisions.

Non official translation