Warranty and shelf life: what they are, how they work and what rights they provide
Automatically translated summary. The full text is available in Romanian.
A consumer information note produced by the Independent Think Tank “Expert-Grup” explains what a warranty is, how it differs from a shelf life, and what protection consumers have in Moldova when a product or service proves defective or non-conforming after purchase.
A warranty is a commitment by the seller or service provider that a product or service is free of defects and meets quality standards. Under Law No. 105/2003, it is a period, set by law or declared, starting from delivery, during which the seller, provider or producer must refund the price, replace, repair or maintain the product at no extra cost if it does not match warranty statements or advertising.
Shelf life is different. Under the Civil Code, it is the period after which goods can no longer be used, and the seller must supply goods usable for their purpose until it expires. Under Law No. 279/2017, food shelf life is expressed as a use-by date or a time interval, and extending it, including by relabelling or repackaging, is prohibited. Warranties may be statutory (mandatory) or commercial (optional). The note is part of the national campaign “Consumer rights are my rights!”.
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