The draft Royal Decree “aimed at determining the goods covered by the repairability index, the technical standards for establishing scores for each of the criteria and the methodology for calculating the repairability index” refers to washing machines and televisions among the goods for which a repairability index is to be calculated and communicated. An index of this type should allow consumers to inquire about the repairability of these devices. Consumers will, by being better informed about repairability, be more likely to acquire a device that has good repairability. The device concerned will therefore also be repaired more often.

This draft Royal Decree implements an action in the Federal Action Plan for a Circular Economy, approved by the Council of Ministers on 17 December 2021. It implements the Law on promoting the repairability and durability of goods, which was passed by the House on 8 February 2024. This Royal Decree transforms the repairability index into a durability index for brands/models of televisions and washing machines that will be placed on the market after it enters into force.