Not everyone is pleased with new European warranty guidelines

The European Parliament has approved a proposal to harmonize warranties all across Europe, but not everyone is satisfied with the content.

Two-year warranty in Europe

The proposal means that consumers will now have a two-year warranty everywhere in Europe whenever they buy something. Several countries, including Belgium, already had this legislation, but there were many exceptions. Not only will the warranty now stretch to two years, the period for hidden defects is now extended to one year. Up till now, the Belgian consumer had to prove within six months of his purchase that the manufacturer is to blame for a particular defect. Soon, the consumer will have a year to do so.

Belgian trade federation Comeos is happy with the European Parliament’s decision, but warns that the European Council still has to approve it as well: only then can the proposal be turned into actual legislation.

Too many exceptions

Belgian SME federation Unizo regrets that member states will still be able to create a range of exceptions. “Europe has missed an opportunity to actually harmonize the situation, giving legality and clarity to every entrepreneur and consumer inside the Union.”

It also feels that manufacturers can still dodge their responsibility too much and that there needs to be a separate warranty service for second-hand items, like Belgium has. “In short: the new guideline is not only a missed opportunity, but also not an improvement for European consumer goods retailers at all.”