Toimitushetkellä

Toimitushetkellä is a Finnish term used in contracts and logistics to indicate the moment when goods are considered delivered. It specifies when the transfer of risk, responsibility, and sometimes ownership between seller and buyer occurs, and it is frequently used to clarify who bears costs arising after delivery.

In standard commercial practice, the risk of loss or damage passes to the buyer at the delivery moment, unless the contract or applicable law states otherwise. Ownership transfer may be governed by the contract; delivery-defined moments often coincide with transfer of title, but not always. Therefore, toimitushetkellä refers to the specific point in time in the contract at which these transfers are deemed to occur.

The concept is commonly found in sales agreements, transport and logistics arrangements, and in clauses that relate to payment terms, liability, and warranty. It is also connected to international trade terms (Incoterms) and to national rules governing sale of goods, where a delivery moment sets the starting point for risk and cost allocation.

In practice, the phrase is used to avoid ambiguity about when a seller is released from liability for the goods or when a buyer takes on responsibility for transport and storage costs. It may be different from the moment of shipment or acceptance, depending on contract wording.

Because contractual language varies, parties often define toimitushetkellä precisely in the contract, specifying the delivery location, the carrier, and any conditions for acceptance. The term thus functions as a legal and commercial shorthand for a defined moment of delivery.