ZIV safeguards fair competition: board agrees clear guidelines for sanctioned companies
Berlin, 24 February 2026 | The ZIV Board has agreed unanimously to introduce a standardised process to screen whether companies applying for membership appear on any relevant sanctions lists. Listed companies will not be admitted to the association. This is intended to ensure that the ZIV and its members comply with international sanctions, minimising risks and safeguarding fair competition.
In future, all membership applications will be checked against relevant sanctions lists, especially those of the EU and USA. Sanctions lists are official registers of individuals and companies subject to national or international economic sanctions. Special attention will be paid to lists where merely cooperating with or supplying sanctioned entities may in turn trigger sanctions («secondary sanctions»). Existing members will also be reviewed, with the review process gradually phased in for them, too. An experienced law firm is assisting the ZIV with the process.
Companies on relevant sanctions lists or affiliated with such companies will not be able to join the ZIV and will be denied membership. The general meeting will in future decide on membership in case of listings on non-relevant sanction lists.
Burkhard Stork – CEO, ZIV: «As an association, we have a special responsibility: championing fair competition for our members is not enough; we must also actively uphold good conduct. With the new review process, we are setting clear standards and acting with resolve. Because compliance is more than talk – it is something we actively live by. At the same time, we involve our members in the process with full transparency and work with them to minimise risks and ensure legal certainty.»
This decision underlines the ZIV’s commitment to transparent, legally sound membership. Designed to protect members, the association and its representatives from unintended fallout from sanctions, it will also help to prevent unfair competition.
In future, all membership applications will be checked against relevant sanctions lists, especially those of the EU and USA. Sanctions lists are official registers of individuals and companies subject to national or international economic sanctions. Special attention will be paid to lists where merely cooperating with or supplying sanctioned entities may in turn trigger sanctions («secondary sanctions»). Existing members will also be reviewed, with the review process gradually phased in for them, too. An experienced law firm is assisting the ZIV with the process.
Companies on relevant sanctions lists or affiliated with such companies will not be able to join the ZIV and will be denied membership. The general meeting will in future decide on membership in case of listings on non-relevant sanction lists.
Burkhard Stork – CEO, ZIV: «As an association, we have a special responsibility: championing fair competition for our members is not enough; we must also actively uphold good conduct. With the new review process, we are setting clear standards and acting with resolve. Because compliance is more than talk – it is something we actively live by. At the same time, we involve our members in the process with full transparency and work with them to minimise risks and ensure legal certainty.»
This decision underlines the ZIV’s commitment to transparent, legally sound membership. Designed to protect members, the association and its representatives from unintended fallout from sanctions, it will also help to prevent unfair competition.
About the ZIV
The ZIV is the national representative and a strong voice for the German and international bicycle industry, including importers and wholesalers as well as established businesses and start-ups from the entire bicycle ecosystem. As an industry association, the ZIV brings together and represents the interests of around 140 member companies vis-à-vis lawmakers in the EU and Germany, the German government, authorities, media, institutions and organisations. Around ninety percent of the bicycles and e-bikes produced in Germany in 2024 were from ZIV member companies, which export 1.3 million units every year in addition to sales on the domestic market.
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