Study On Built-In Obsolescence Of Electrical And Electronic Devices

On 12 May 2017, the Minister of Economic and Consumer Affairs Kris Peeters and the Minister for Energy, Environment and Sustainable Growth Marie-Christine Marghem released the results of a study on built-in obsolescence which they had commissioned in the aftermath of the VW Diesel scandal (the study is available here). The term "built-in obsolescence" refers to any technique used by manufacturers to limit deliberately the lifetime of a product, thereby accelerating its replacement.

The primary aim of the study was to investigate to what extent manufacturers program the obsolescence of their electrical and electronic devices. Although the study found little proof of programmers actually building-in obsolescence, it notes that it cannot be ruled out that built-in obsolescence actually exists. Moreover, the study finds that consumers are genuinely frustrated when the actual lifetime of the products which they purchase does not correspond to their expected lifetime.