sec_2_5__para__3

Before they can reach the end-user in the EU, products from countries outside the EU will be presented to customs and declared for the release for free circulation procedure. The purpose of release for free circulation is to fulfil all import formalities so that the goods can be made available on, and circulate freely in the EU market like any product made in the EU. Therefore, when products are presented to customs and declared for the release for free circulation procedure, it can generally be considered that the goods are being placed on the EU market; the products will thus need to be compliant with the applicable Union harmonisation legislation. However, in practice, the release for free circulation and the placing on the market may not take place at the same time. The placing on the market is the moment in which the product is supplied for distribution, consumption or use for the purposes of compliance with Union harmonisation legislation. Placing on the market can take place before the release for free circulation, for example, in the case of online or distance sales by economic operators located outside the EU, even if the physical check of the compliance of the products can take place at the earliest when they arrive at the customs in the EU. Placing on the market can also take place after release for free circulation.

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Source: EUR-Lex (Cellar) · retrieved 2026-09-25 · Text as adopted (Official Journal); later amendments are not incorporated in this text.