The right to repair consumer goods: innovations of Legislative Decree no. 176/2026

With Legislative Decree no. 176 of September 25, 2026, entering into force on October 22, the Government transposed Directive (UE) 2024/1799, introducing into the Consumer Code a set of rules aimed at promoting the repair of goods purchased by consumers, in line with the most recent European goals for circular economy development. To this end, a new Title II-bis was inserted, introducing specific obligations for manufacturers and industry operators, while simultaneously strengthening consumer protections and favoring production and consumption models more focused on durability and sustainability.

Among the main novelties, Article 127-quinquies of the Consumer Code provides that, for certain categories of goods subject to specific European repairability requirements, manufacturers shall be required, upon the consumer’s request, to provide repair services either free of charge or at a reasonable price and within a reasonable timeframe, provided that repair is technically feasible.

Regarding transparency, the introduction under Article 127-quater of the Consumer Code of the European Repair Information Form is particularly noteworthy. Through this form, repairers will be able to provide clear advance information to consumers regarding service features, costs, execution timelines and any ancillary services.

Furthermore, the reform amended the regulations on the legal guarantee of conformity by modifying Articles 129, 133, 135-bis, and 135-ter of the Consumer Code, adding durability and repairability to the characteristics a consumer can reasonably expect from a product. Of particular interest is the modification concerning the seller’s period of liability: when repair is performed as a remedy to restore the conformity of the good, the relevant liability period is extended, on a one-time basis, by an additional twelve months. Sellers will also be required to inform consumers in advance of their right to choose between repair and replacement, as well as the potential extension of the liability period.

The framework is completed by the creation of a national section of the European online repair platform and the establishment of the National Repair Observatory at the Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy, tasked with monitoring the market and promoting awareness of the sector.