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For how long do manufacturers have to provide genuine spare parts?The short answer is that there is currently no legislation that states that spare parts have to be available for any set period of time, either in UK or EU legislation.What this means is that if you buy any equipment such as a compressor, dryer or pneumatic tool, the manufacturer or brand owner has no responsibility to ensure that spare parts are available for any set period at all, and you have no recourse in law to challenge a genuine spare part not being available.The reason for the lack of availability could be that the manufacturer has decided not to support the product or that the support will only last for a finite period of time. The part may also be outsourced, and that source could eventually dry up.Therefore if you are told that a spare part is no longer available, chances are there is little if anything that you can do about it, even on a machine or piece of equipment that is only just outside of its manufacturer’s warranty.The 'six year rule'There has been some speculation that the 'six year rule', as it is commonly known under The Sale of Goods Act, would affect this but, in reality, this is unlikely as that rule pertains to defects in the goods from new, not the fact that you cannot get the spare part to repair it. So that avenue would likely prove to be fruitless. The manufacturer will endeavour to provide functional components so that equipment may be serviced throughout the product’s expected life. Different products have different life spans – and even two identical products can have varying life spans, depending on usage. If components are not available, they will discuss and agree an alternative solution with you – if this involves discounting the price of a replacement product, account will be taken of the use you have had of the original product up to that time. Remember some parts are manufactured by other companies and the manufacturers themselves will not have total control of the component parts supply past the cessation of production.