The EU's Right to Repair Directive and the Ecodesign framework move the market toward longer product life, accessible spare parts and legitimate compatible consumables.
Europe’s repair rules are coming into force. Directive (EU) 2024/1799 on the repair of goods, known as the Right to Repair Directive, was published in July 2024. Member States apply the national rules that transpose it from 31 July 2026.
The Directive requires manufacturers to offer repair within a reasonable time and at a reasonable price, to make spare parts available at reasonable prices and to publish indicative prices for typical repairs. It also prohibits clauses or hardware and software techniques that impede repair without a legitimate reason. Together with the Ecodesign framework, which covers durability, spare parts and resource efficiency, products, office equipment included, are meant to last longer and stay repairable.
What it means for consumables
The Directive stops manufacturers from unfairly blocking independent repairers from using original, second-hand, compatible or even 3D-printed spare parts. The condition is that they comply with the law, including product-safety and intellectual-property rules.
That condition separates the legal aftermarket from the illegal one. Compatible and remanufactured cartridges that respect patents and are made to page-yield standards such as ISO/IEC 19752, 19798 and 24711 are a legitimate choice. Patent-infringing clones, the goods seized at the border, are not, and no reputable supplier deals in them.
Choice and product life
The rules are not aimed at the OEM brands. A well-serviced Brother, OKI, Canon, Ricoh, Kyocera or HP machine, with the right consumables and spare parts, is what they encourage.
Ergonet works on both sides. We are an authorised reseller of OEM printers and supplies, and we supply compatible and remanufactured toner, ink, drums and spare parts, backed by service. In our assessment, the 2026 rules give buyers more freedom to repair and to choose, and quality, legally sound consumables will matter more.
Source: European Commission