Inverkehrbringern

Inverkehrbringen is a legal term used in German and EU product law to describe the act of placing a product on the market for the first time within the European Economic Area. It encompasses making a product available to end users in the course of business, for example through sales, rental, gift, or free distribution, including online shops, catalogs, trade fairs, and other distribution channels. The operation is relevant regardless of whether a payment is made and applies to goods that fall under product safety and conformity requirements.

The concept governs who is responsible for a product as it enters the market. In general, the manufacturer (Ersthersteller) has to ensure the product complies with applicable EU and national requirements, create and keep the required technical documentation, and affix the necessary declarations or marks (such as CE). Importers must verify that the imported product complies before placing it on the market, while distributors must act with due care and may not make non-compliant products available. If a product is found to be unsafe or non-compliant, it may be recalled or withdrawn from circulation.

The term is central in national law, such as Germany’s Produktsicherheitsgesetz (ProdSG), and in EU product safety directives, which use analogous concepts like “placing on the market.” Understanding Inverkehrbringen clarifies responsibilities in the supply chain—from manufacturer through importer to retailer—and the conditions under which a product may be legally sold or distributed.