In February 2016 the Federal Environment Agency published a study on how long electrical devices are used. Among large household appliances, the share replaced within five years because of a defect rose from 3.5 percent in 2004 to 8.3 percent in 2013. Many devices, from smartphones to flat-screen televisions, were replaced although they still worked well. The study could not prove planned obsolescence.
The agency’s president, Maria Krautzberger, said that Germany must consider minimum requirements for product lifetime and quality. She spoke of eine Art Mindesthaltbarkeit, a kind of minimum durability, for electrical devices. The word comes from the best-before date on food.