• Show Layout
• Security and Safety Tips
• Price Marking
• CE Marking Information (required for selling your products in Europe!)
• Protection of Intellectual Property Rights (IPR)
• Technical Guidelines for the Düsseldorf Fairgrounds

Show Layout 

NOTE:  The USA Pavilions at MEDICA will be located in Halls 3 and 16, and USA Pavilion at COMPAMED will be in Hall 8b.

Security & SafetyTips

Security

Messe Düsseldorf North America, as organizer of the USA Pavilion, will arrange for its overnight security starting on the evening before the show opens and each night for the duration of the show. However, there will be NO security guards posted in the USA Pavilion on the evening that the show closes.  If you desire your own dedicated booth surveillance on the evening that the show closes, or at any other point during the exhibition, you may order security via the order forms found in the Online Order System (OOS).

Safety Tips

REMEMBER:  If you see something, say something!

During Move-In

• Do not leave your booth unattended until all items, particularly electronics (lap top and tablet computers, smart phones, personal effects, tools, etc.) have been secured.

During the Show

• Be at the booth in plenty of time before the show opens, and do not leave too early in the evening.  Never leave your booth unattended.
• Keep personal effects safely secured, and be sure not to leave them out of your line of view.  DO NOT turn your back on an unsecured personal or valuable item, even for a second.  And keep in mind that a lockable closet or lockable information counter in your booth does not necessarily ensure that your items cannot be stolen! Please consider taking all valuable items to your hotel room overnight.

During Move-Out

• Secure, dismantle, or put away important and/or valuable items first.
• Do not leave your booth unattended until all items, particularly ones of value, have been secured.
• Make sure that the driver or worker collecting your items is really employed by the company you've hired!

Pick-Pocketing Awareness

• Never leave your personal items unattended, and be aware of your surroundings.
• Thieves and pick-pockets often work in teams to create a distraction.  Never leave your purse, wallet, mobile phone, briefcase, laptop or tablet computer out of your line of vision or in an unsecured location within your booth, even for a brief moment.
• Make a photo copy of your passport and drivers license and keep it in a separate, secure location.

Limited Liability

• Please be aware of the limited liability of Messe Düsseldorf GmbH concerning safety and security as stated in the Conditions of Participation (in your original exhibitor application package or on the show web-site at https://www.medica-tradefair.com/). If you have any questions or concerns, please contact us at (312) 781-5180.

Pricing

To comply with German competition laws, exhibitors must observe certain rules. It is important that all exhibitors have equal sales pegging and that no single trader claims an unfair advantage over other competitors. In the interest of parity, Show Management checks to ensure universal compliance with the laws of competition. This reminder is also addressed to foreign exhibitors who may be unaware of German competition law but who must conform when exhibiting at trade fairs in Germany.

Price Marking

The Price Quotation Ordinance stipulates that in sales of goods and services to consumers, the amount quoted must be the end price, inclusive of all additional items such as freight costs and German sales tax. The purchase price quoted must be that stipulated at the show. Prices must be marked on the goods displayed. If goods are offered for sale from sample books, prices must be listed. Price lists are also permissible in the case of goods not exhibited separately but displayed on racks or in containers or receptacles. No price labeling is required for display-only samples. However, in such cases exhibitors are not permitted to distribute price lists relating to the said sample.

Exhibitors may not quote prices referring to items other than those on display or quote a basic price for exhibits with any special features that, if included, would increase the purchase price.

Price breakdown, e.g. basic price and special packages as exhibited, freight forwarding to the trade fair and sales tax is permitted if the end price is prominently displayed. The prices must be quoted in Euro. Prices may be quoted in a different currency, even if this complicates price comparisons, if the products are sold in that currency.

International exhibitors must quote current German sales tax even when not selling in Germany. This enables visitors to compare prices on a like-for-like basis.

Price labels must be in print large enough to permit all visitors to recognize the price details at a glance.

Special Prices

Prices may be promoted provided they are accompanied by a note stating that the price has been reduced by a certain percentage. Please note that price reductions must be genuine and not misleading, i.e. the item must have been sold previously at a higher price. Artificially increased prices are not acceptable. Special offers should be limited in number. If only special offers are on display this equates with a non-admissible special event. Exhibitors may quote prices which are general reductions purely for the duration of the show. They are not allowed to promote prices to selected customer groups, e.g. members of associations.

Details of performance and measurements must be in accordance with the Law on Measurement Compliance.

Advertising

All advertising must be exhibition-based. Exhibitors may not promote non-admissible product groups. Advertising aimed at influencing competition to the detriment of competitors, end-users or others active in the market is not allowed. All misleading information on products or their price structure is therefore inadmissible. "Sold" signs may not be attached to exhibits on display. Specific types of comparative advertising are also not allowed. 

CE Marking Information

Machinery and equipment (technical items)

For additional information, please contact:

1. In the Federal Republic of Germany it is obligatory for technical items, i.e. equipment, machinery, systems, and similar products (e.g. household, sports, leisure and DIY equipment and toys) to be set up as safely as possible, in conformity with the generally recognized rules of trade and any industry specific occupational safety and accident prevention regulations. There are also specific standards in some fields. These set out requirements regarding the quality and safety of such products.
   
   In order to be marketed, technical items must meet the safety level outlined above. As standards are being harmonized across Europe, it is also necessary for items mentioned in EU directives to be tested according to Europe-wide standards. In addition, products must bear the “CE” mark. Equipment not identified in this manner may not be marketed. Technical items must have attached a certificate of compliance and in the case of sports boats a manual.  


2. The above-mentioned regulations also apply to all trade fairs and exhibitions. Apart from retailing at trade fairs aimed at industry, trade and large business consumers, equipment not bearing a “CE” mark and not conforming with the regulations may be exhibited, provided the item bears a clearly visible label stating that the product does not meet the required standard and may only be purchased within the European economic area once the product meets these requirements.
   
   In this case, we suggest that the following text be used:
   
   “The product version displayed here does not comply with European Union legislation and can only be purchased within the European economic area once the product meets these requirements.”
   
   When demonstrating machinery of this sort, the necessary safety precautions must be taken. This means that a piece of equipment which is displayed but does not meet the legal requirements for marketing may only be demonstrated if sufficient safety measures are in place. Operation otherwise can be prohibited by the Federal Office for Occupational Safety or the trade fair organizers.
   
   Equipment not bearing the “CE” sign must not be presented at exhibitions aimed at end users. They may be exhibited and demonstrated at trade fairs only if they bear the special label described above.  


3. Exhibitors from outside the European Union must either ensure that their machinery is manufactured in accordance with current EU standards and test procedures so that they qualify for the “CE” mark, or, if their machinery does not meet these requirements, it must bear an appropriate label as described above. Your attention is drawn to item 5.6.2 of the technical regulations.

Protection of Intellectual Property Rights (IPR)

The possibility exists that there may be other exhibitors holding property rights in the Federal Republic of Germany or in the European Union and remind you that these rights must be respected without reservation. Violation of these rights shall not be permitted and can have serious consequences. In so far as you own such intellectual property rights you are recommended to bring the documents and certificates of proof (originals or notified copies of the patent, trade mark, registered patterns or design patent certificate/s) to the event. (Should you have obtained an enforceable title against your competitor, you are requested to also bring this.) This is the only means of ensuring legal protection of intellectual property quickly and comprehensively. Furthermore, it is also possible that goods are seized by customs officials in the run-up to the event. Measures of this kind can also be undertaken on the premises of Messe Düsseldorf – and, hence, not only at national borders.

Messe Düsseldorf is not authorized to undertake any measures against your competitor by itself in the event of such contraventions. It is only vested with such authority subject to a relevant court ruling against the competitor.

The U.S. Department of Commerce has undertaken numerous activities to assist small- and medium sized businesses in protecting intellectual property rights, both in the United States and abroad.

STOP! (Strategy Targeting Organized Piracy) is a comprehensive program to stop trade in pirated and counterfeit goods. Through STOP!, the U.S. Government is working to make it easier for U.S. rights holders to obtain and enforce their intellectual property rights. The U.S. Government has also leveraged its law enforcement resources and is establishing international cooperation to dismantle the criminal networks that manufacture and distribute fake goods. STOP! underscores the U.S. Government's continuing commitment to level the playing field for American businesses and workers.

The International Trade Administration, part of the U.S. Department of Commerce, has developed a program to promote protection of IPR at both domestic and international trade fairs. ITA continues to strive for the education of trade fair attendees, exhibitors, and organizers about the value of IPR, raise awareness of IPR issues at trade fairs, and its promotion at trade fairs and USA Pavilions that the U.S. Department of Commerce supports.

The following resources have been established for further information:

https://www.stopfakes.gov/welcome

GEMA

If you intend to play a video that has background music it is best to make sure that you own the license to that music, and bring documentation to support it. In Germany music must be licensed in order to be used at a trade show. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GEMA. For licensing visit GEMA's website: www.gema.de

To purchase available unlicensed music, enter 'GEMA' into the search bar in the OOS (Online Order System)

Technical Guidelines for the Düsseldorf Fairgrounds

On your company's behalf, the pavilion's organizer, stand builder, and various service contractors are already familiar and in compliance with the Technical Guidelines for the Düsseldorf Fairgrounds. This information contains general technical and safety regulations of the fairgrounds, general rules and regulations for stand construction and trade show participation, hall dimensions and specifications, and general lists of various sanctioned service contractors.  Please contact us at (312) 781-5180 if you would like us to provide you with a copy of the show's Technical Guidelines.