Quebec Bill 29 right to repair: what to do now

Quick answer: what Quebec Bill 29 means right now

Quebec Bill 29 right to repair changes how many products can be sold in Quebec. It updates the Quebec right to repair law inside the Quebec Consumer Protection Act (CPA), including rules often tied to section 39 and related sections. The goal is simple: products should last longer, and people should be able to fix what they own.

• Before you sell, you may need to tell shoppers (in writing) if parts, repair help, and maintenance info will be available.
• After you sell, you may need to make parts, repair services, and maintenance information available for a reasonable time (unless a valid written disclaimer was provided before sale).
• If parts are offered, they should be installable using commonly available tools and without causing irreversible damage.
• Bill 29 also adds stronger consumer protections like a ban on planned obsolescence and a good working order warranty Quebec rules for certain new goods.

What to do now: build a Quebec-only disclosure workflow for your product pages and in-store signage, and decide (in plain language) what you will guarantee for parts, repairs, and maintenance information.

Key dates: the two-phase timeline (2025 vs 2026)

Many articles mix up the start dates. In practice, businesses should plan for two milestones:

Date	What changes	Who is impacted
Oct 5, 2025	Major right-to-repair rules and the Regulation take effect, including broad pre-sale disclosure duties for goods that require maintenance work, and a clearer framework for the warranty of availability of parts/repairs/maintenance info.	Manufacturers and merchants selling into Quebec (online or in-store).
Oct 5, 2026	Additional Bill 29 provisions and broader performance obligations are described by some sources as coming into force later. Treat this as a second compliance wave and confirm which sections apply to your product lines.	Manufacturers, merchants, and marketplace sellers with Quebec customers.

Trend insight: Quebec is the first province with a broad, commonly used-goods right-to-repair regime, and other provinces (and the federal government) have signaled interest in similar rules. If you sell Canada-wide, build one system you can reuse.

Step 1: check if the law likely applies to your sales

The Bill 29 regulation goods requiring maintenance category is broad. Courts have interpreted “goods of a nature that requires maintenance work” widely, meaning many consumer products can be included.

Does it apply to online sales into Quebec?

Often, yes. If you sell to a Quebec consumer (even from outside Quebec), the CPA can still apply. This is a common risk area for marketplaces and cross-border e-commerce sellers.

• If your checkout ships to a Quebec address, assume you need Quebec-compliant disclosures.
• If you have both English and French sites, prepare bilingual disclosures (many sources note written disclosures in French and English).
• Keep proof of what you showed before purchase (screenshots, logs, version history).

Step 2: build the pre-sale disclosure module (the fastest win)

For many teams, the biggest short-term job is the Bill 29 pre-sale disclosure requirements. You need a simple, repeatable way to show (before purchase) whether you guarantee:

• replacement parts
• repair services
• maintenance information (which may include diagnostic software and updates, depending on the product)

There is limited public guidance on the exact format, so focus on being clear, consistent, and easy to find.

Where can disclosures live?

• Online: product detail page (PDP), near price/add-to-cart, plus a copy in order confirmation/invoice.
• In-store: shelf label, tag, poster, or a binder/QR code that is clearly available before purchase.
• In-box: user or maintenance manual (helpful, but do not rely on this alone if the rule requires pre-sale notice).

Example PDP block (simple and auditable)

Quebec right-to-repair notice (QC)
Parts: Guaranteed for 7 years after purchase.
Repair services: Available through our service network.
Maintenance information: Available at example.com/support.
Tools: Repairs use commonly available tools.
Details: example.com/qc-right-to-repair

Tip: store these as product attributes in your catalog (not as free text). That makes it possible to update thousands of pages faster.

Step 3: set your “reasonable time” and “reasonable price” policy

The law uses “reasonable” language on purpose. Your job is to make it real inside your business so customer support, service teams, and retailers all say the same thing.

Decisions to make (write them down)

1. Reasonable time for parts availability: pick a default by product type (example: 5 years for small electronics, 7–10 years for major appliances). Document why.
2. Reasonable price: decide what price rules you will follow (example: parts priced at MSRP; shipping at cost; no “lockout” fees).
3. Maintenance information: decide where it lives (support portal, QR code in manual) and what is included (manuals, exploded diagrams, error codes, firmware/updates when needed).
4. Tools: confirm that replacement parts can be installed with commonly available tools. The Regulation describes tools as commonly available if they are provided free of charge by the time the consumer takes possession, or can be obtained at a reasonable price within a reasonable time.
5. Third-party repair and warranty: train your team so they do not wrongly tell customers that using an independent repair shop voids the warranty. (Anti-tying expectations show up in right-to-repair discussions.)

Step 4: split the work correctly (merchant vs manufacturer)

A big pain point is role confusion. Here is a practical map you can use for your project plan.

Topic	Manufacturer	Merchant / Retailer
Disclosure content	Create the official statement (full/partial/none) covering parts, repair services, and maintenance information.	Display the disclosure to the consumer before sale (online or in-store). Often includes linking to the manufacturer’s disclaimer.
Parts availability	Stock, source, or otherwise ensure parts are available for a reasonable period (unless properly disclaimed).	Make it easy for buyers to find how to get parts/repairs; avoid sales practices that hide or contradict the disclosure.
Repair services	Provide repair options (in-house, authorized, or other) and clear instructions.	Route customers to the right support channel and keep records of what was promised.
Maintenance information	Publish and maintain manuals/info; provide needed updates where applicable.	Link to it and ensure pre-sale visibility when required.

Copy-ready templates (English + French)

Use these as a starting point for a manufacturer disclaimer and a retailer display. Adapt to your product and legal review.

1) Full guarantee (parts + repair + info)

EN (QC Notice)
We guarantee the availability of replacement parts, repair services, and maintenance information for this product for a reasonable period after purchase. Details: [URL]

FR (Avis QC)
Nous garantissons la disponibilite des pieces de rechange, des services de reparation et des renseignements d’entretien pour ce produit pendant une periode raisonnable apres l’achat. Details : [URL]

2) Partial guarantee (be specific)

EN (QC Notice)
Parts: Guaranteed for [X] years.
Repair services: Available through [channel].
Maintenance information: Available at [URL].
Limits: [clear limits].

FR (Avis QC)
Pieces : garanties pendant [X] ans.
Services de reparation : offerts par [canal].
Renseignements d’entretien : disponibles a [URL].
Limites : [limites claires].

3) No guarantee (only if valid under the CPA/Regulation)

EN (QC Notice)
We do not guarantee the availability of replacement parts, repair services, or maintenance information for this product after purchase.

FR (Avis QC)
Nous ne garantissons pas la disponibilite des pieces de rechange, des services de reparation ou des renseignements d’entretien pour ce produit apres l’achat.

Retailer “link-and-display” pattern

EN: Quebec right-to-repair disclosure: See manufacturer notice at [URL].
FR: Divulgation (droit a la reparation - Quebec) : Voir l’avis du fabricant : [URL].

30-day compliance checklist (use this in one meeting)

Goal: get to a safe, repeatable baseline for Oct 5, 2025.

1. Inventory scope: list SKUs sold into Quebec that are likely “goods requiring maintenance work.”
2. Data model: add catalog fields for parts/repair/info guarantee (full/partial/none), duration, and URL.
3. Bilingual copy: draft and approve English/French disclosure blocks.
4. PDP placement: add the disclosure near price/add-to-cart for Quebec shoppers.
5. Retail ops: create an in-store method (shelf talker, QR, binder) that is available before sale.
6. Customer support macros: write scripts for parts requests, repair options, and maintenance info.
7. Recordkeeping: keep dated evidence of what was shown pre-sale.

Simple readiness scorecard (0 to 100)

• 20 points: Quebec SKU list completed and reviewed
• 20 points: Catalog fields + QA checks live
• 20 points: Bilingual disclosures approved
• 20 points: PDP + checkout + invoice capture implemented
• 20 points: Support + service process documented

What consumers and repair shops can do (citizen action item)

If you live in Quebec, you can use these rules to protect yourself and reduce waste (more repairs usually means fewer products in the trash).

• Before you buy: ask for the Quebec right to repair disclosure. If shopping online, screenshot the notice.
• When something breaks: request parts and maintenance information in writing.
• If you hit a wall: contact the Office de la protection du consommateur (OPC) and share the proof of what was disclosed.

Every repair can also cut demand for new manufacturing. That matters because making new electronics and appliances uses energy and raw materials, which drives emissions.

FAQ (fast answers)

What are “goods of a nature that requires maintenance work”?

It is a broad category that can cover many consumer products, including appliances, electronics, and other goods that people normally maintain or repair.

What does “commonly available tools” mean?

It generally means tools a normal person can get easily and at a reasonable price, within a reasonable time, or tools provided for free by the time you receive the product.

Can third-party repair void my warranty under Bill 29?

Businesses should avoid telling customers that independent repair automatically voids warranty. Train staff to follow the written warranty terms and the CPA legal warranty rules.

What are the penalties for noncompliance?

Quebec can use administrative monetary penalties and fines for CPA violations. Some sources note administrative penalties can apply per day while a failure continues, so delays can get expensive fast.

Is this legal advice?

No. Use this as an implementation guide and confirm details with your legal team for your exact products and sales channels.