How we verify sources

Every rule and obligation on this site is recorded with its source and the date it was checked. This page explains what each piece of data on the pages means.

1. 1. Linked official source

   Every rule links to its source. If the source is official (official gazette, bulletin, authority portal) it is labeled “Official source”; if it comes from a law firm, a trade outlet or another third party, it is labeled “Secondary source”.

2. 2. Verification status

   Each obligation shows whether its text was checked against the official source (“Verified in the official source”) or whether the data comes from a secondary source and is still “Pending confirmation in the official source”. Pending obligations are shown too, with the date of their last check.

3. 3. Check date

   Each obligation stores the date of its last check. Country and template pages show the most recent date among the obligations they include.

4. 4. Cutoff date

   Each country has a cutoff date (“Information as of…”): anything that changes after that date is not reflected. If you see a difference from the official text, the official text prevails.

5. 5. Countries with secondary sources

   When fewer than 40% of a country's obligations are verified in the official source, its page shows a prominent notice and the “Mostly secondary sources” label.

See rules by country