France enacts law-forcing companies to make appliances last longer - Interview with Aubrey LeBlanc from Consumers Council of Canada
Under the new French Consumer Protection Law, France is ordering manufacturers to inform consumers how long they can expect their TV, cell phone or other appliance to last — before they buy it.
A new French government decree that came into effect this week aims at fighting so-called planned obsolescence. That is when companies design strategies to limit the life span of appliances, so that consumers will have to replace them. Violators face up to 15000 euros in fines.