Coravia’s right-to-repair rules came into force on Wednesday, requiring manufacturers of phones, laptops and tablets to supply spare parts, repair tools and full service manuals to independent shops and consumers for seven years after a device’s last sale.
The rules, passed eighteen months ago with an implementation grace period, also cap the price of genuine parts at a “reasonable margin” over cost and ban software locks that disable third-party-repaired components — the provision manufacturers fought hardest.
“From today, the glue model is over,” said consumer affairs commissioner Dita Wren, whose office gains powers to fine non-compliant manufacturers up to 4 per cent of national turnover.
Coravia’s repair sector — some 1,900 independent shops — expects a surge. “Half my counter conversations end with ‘the part is locked’. That sentence died at midnight,” said Meridale repairer Jonas Selk, whose shop has doubled its bench staff in anticipation.
Manufacturers’ association Techforum Coravia said members would comply while warning of “unintended consequences for device security” — an argument the regulator dismissed, noting the rules exempt secure-element components. The first compliance audit publishes in the new year; campaigners across the Accord, where three states have similar bills pending, will be reading it closely.
