Starting today, new regulations in Quebec are putting the spotlight on retailers’ responsibility for the sustainability of products and the issue of planned obsolescence. The provisions, which were approved by the provincial government on October 3, 2023, aim to safeguard consumers against products intentionally designed with a limited lifespan. The focus is on promoting durability, repairability, and maintenance of goods.
Under the new rules, it is now illegal in Quebec to sell products that have been purposely designed to have a short operational life. Consumers will now have access to information at the point of purchase regarding the availability of repair parts and services for the products they are considering buying. The government emphasizes that these spare parts and repair services must be reasonably priced and compatible with commonly available tools.
In addition to these regulations, several other consumer protection measures are being implemented, with penalties for merchants and manufacturers who fail to comply with the law. The federal Economic Development and Environment Departments conducted an online consultation on this issue in September, highlighting the interest of various provinces in adopting similar regulations.
