1259

In this year, Archbishop Konrad von Hochstaden granted the Stapelrecht to the city. Originally conceived to ensure the supply of goods to the city's residents, the Stapelrecht forced the merchants to offer all of their wares for sale in Cologne for a three-day period. The goods were also checked for their quality, repackaged in defined quantities and sealed. This marking developed over time to become the internationally accepted seal of quality, covering both quality and contents.