Bought before October 5, 2026: are you protected?

The new warranty isn't retroactive. But your item bought before October 5, 2026 is still protected by the law's general warranties.

In short

  • The warranty of good working order covers purchases made since October 5, 2026.
  • Bought before, delivered after: the purchase date decides whether it applies.
  • Sections 37 and 38 still protect your older items.
  • The reasonable lifespan depends on the price, the contract and use.

Not retroactive

According to the Office de la protection du consommateur, the warranty of good working order applies to goods bought on or after October 5, 2026. An item bought on October 4, 2026 or earlier isn't entitled to it.

Bought before, delivered after? The contract date determines whether the new warranty applies. Delivery, on the other hand, starts the clock for purchases made since October 5, 2026 (s. 38.4).

What still protects you

The general warranties of the Consumer Protection Act have existed for a long time:

  • An item must be fit for the purpose for which it's normally intended (s. 37).
  • An item must be fit for normal use for a reasonable time, given its price, the terms of the contract and the conditions of use (s. 38).

These warranties have no fixed length. A $2,000 refrigerator that gives out after 4 years, for example, may still be covered. The difference with Bill 29: you have to show the lifespan was unreasonable, while the warranty of good working order gives a clear length.

How to claim them

  1. Write to the merchant or the manufacturer, citing sections 37 and 38.
  2. Explain the price paid, the item's age and the normal use you made of it.
  3. If they refuse, use our letter generator with the “general warranties” option.

Frequently asked questions

Do merchants have to apply Bill 29 to items that were in stock before?

What counts is the date of your purchase. An item bought in a store since October 5, 2026 is covered, even if it was in stock before.

What is a reasonable lifespan?

The law doesn't give a number. The price, the contract and the conditions of use are taken into account. The Bill 29 lengths can serve as a benchmark for comparison.

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Updated October 21, 2026. General information, not legal advice. Official source: Office de la protection du consommateur.