Buying a used car or a second‑hand item in Paraguay has always been a transaction based almost entirely on trust. Now a draft bill seeks to radically change that landscape by establishing, for the first time, a mandatory legal warranty for both new and used goods.
The proposal was presented by the Secretariat for Consumer and User Protection (Sedeco) at a meeting held at the Paraguayan Industrial Union (UIP). The text stipulates that new products must carry a minimum one‑year coverage, while used products must offer a six‑month legal warranty.
Beyond the timeframes, the draft provides that any repair carried out during the warranty period must be completely free of charge, including spare parts, labour and transport costs. To prevent service centres from dragging out solutions, the warranty period is suspended while the item is under repair and resumes only after the repaired product is returned.
Another key point is joint liability: the original supplier will be legally responsible for organising and running the contracted technical service, eliminating the practice of referring customers to third‑party workshops that do not take responsibility for damage. Companies will also have to guarantee the availability of original parts and adequate long‑term technical support.
The initiative has sparked debate in the business sector. Industry and trade representatives voiced concern about the financial and logistical impact of the new requirements. Fully free repairs and the need to maintain permanent parts inventories would raise operating costs, which could be passed on to final prices, generating inflationary pressure on durable goods.
On the other hand, the government argues that a modern legal framework strengthens consumer confidence and boosts the formal economy. The expectation is that legal certainty and transparency will promote fairer competition and align Paraguay with international standards, making the country more attractive for foreign investment.