In the EPREL database, the date of first placement on the market relates to the date on which a supplier makes the first unit of the product model recorded available for distribution or use on the Union market.
The date of end of placement on the market refers to when a product model is removed or discontinued from production being placed on the EU market. date of end of placement on the market' means the date of placing on the market of the last unit of a product model;
Some examples of dates that are considered dates of end of placement are as follows:
- in the case of products from third country imported, the 'date of end of placement on the market' could be the date of the last customs declaration, provided the importer is not going to import that model anymore and that no later document mentions that model (e.g. an invoice or any 'transportation' document).
- in case of products from EU manufacturers, it can be the date of the last document related to the last unit of a model leaving the factory (i.e. the transport document, or the invoice, if later…).
On the contrary, the date of sale to the final or the intermediate customer is an operation that is beyond the control of the supplier is not relevant to EPREL.
More info here.
Disclaimer: Please note that the European Commission cannot provide a legally binding interpretation of the EU legislation, as this is the sole competence of the European Court of Justice. Any remarks from the European Commission services are without prejudice to the position the Commission might take should related cases arise in a procedure before the Court of Justice.