International Organisation for Biotechnology and Bioengineering

20 Aug 2004

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IOBB	International Organisation for Biotechnology and Bioengineering Secretariat: Stockholm (since Jan 2004) Chairman: Mr. Jacky E.L. Foo
..Statutes ..Organization ..Membership	STATUTES - 2004 (currently being revised) Statutes - 1994
..Activities


Article 1	Name The name of the organisation is International Organisation for Biotechnology and Bioengineering, hereinafter referred to as IOBB
Article 2	Objectives The objective of IOBB is to foster the advancement and exploitation of biotechnology and bioengineering for the benefit of mankind through: 2.1. enhancing interactions between laboratories, institutes, commercial enterprises and individuals working in the area of plant, mammalian and microbial cell cultivation and processing throughout the world and especially in the developing countries; 2.2. fostering the development in the use of biological materials for industrial purposes and the preservation of the ecological environment; 2.3. fostering training courses, fellowships and cooperative research programmes amongst its members, in particular between members from the developed and developing countries; 2.4. arranging meetings, symposia, and seminars to ensure the dissemination of new or pertinent knowledge in the above fields; 2.5. organising international training programmes for scientists, technologists and engineers of all nations interested in the application of biological materials for commercial use and the preservation of our environment; 2.6. close cooperation with UNESCO, MIRCENs, WFCC, UNEP, UNIDO, UNU, COBIOTECH and other international and national organisations in the above field; 2.7. maintaining Committees as may be appropriate for international cooperation and agreement 2.8. development of a network of communication, and 2.9. maintaining a regular Newsletter with contributions from the Executive, Committees and Members.
Article 3 (amended on 27 jan 2004	Membership Any person can become a member. IOBB membership can be claimed only when membership fee is paid.
Article 4 (amended on 27 jan 2004	Membership Fee Membership fees are compulsory if you wish to participate in special IOBB activities. The Executive Committee will determine from time to time the membership fee. The Executive Committee will be entitled to determine at their discretion concessions of membership fees to individuals.
Article 5 (amended on 27 jan 2004	Activities IOBB welcomes all types of activities that are related to biotechnology and bioengineering. Any member can plan, organise and conduct an activity on behalf of IOBB. A declaration of intent should first be sent to the chairman for approval by the Executive Committee. If needed, one or more members will be selected to cooperate with the organizer. Activities should be announced via the IOBB News and Announcement mailing list and other appropriate media if needed.
Article 6	Composition of Executive Committee The Executive Committee shall consists of the Chairman, Vice-Chairman [=Chairman-Elect] and at least seven (7) further members selected on geographical distribution. The Executive Committee shall appoint at its first meeting after election a Secretary and a Treasurer from within its members. The term of office shall coincide with the period between the International Biotechnology Symposia. Members of the Executive shall be eligible for re-election. The Executive shall be elected by postal ballot and/or nomination at the general meeting during the International Biotechnology Symposium. For this purpose, the Secretary shall circulate at least 6 months prior to the meeting a postal ballot paper to all full members of IOBB. In order to be effective, the ballot paper must reach the Secretary at least 1 month prior to the general meeting. The new Executive Committee shall be announced at its General Meeting. The Executive Committee can accept Ex-officio members by special invitation through consensus.
Article 7	Advisory Board The Advisory Board shall consist of no more than eight (8) persons elected by IOBB members to act in an advisory capacity to the Executive Committee. One of the main functions of the Advisory Board should be the establishment of closer relationships between research institutes and to form closer links with biotechnology industries.
Article 8	Duties The Chairman shall preside at meetings of the Executive Committee. The Vice-Chairman [=Chairman-Elect] shall, in the absence of the Chairman, perform the duties and exercise the powers of the Chairman. The Secretary shall record the minutes of the meetings of the Executive Committee. He/She shall be responsible in general for the maintenance of effective liaison between the Executive Committee and the Members of IOBB. He/She shall prepare an Annual Report of the Executive Committee for circulation to all members. The Treasurer shall be responsible for the administration of the finances of IOBB. He/She shall be authorized to receive monies on behalf of IOBB and to pay such debts as may be incurred in the work of IOBB. He/She shall annually furnish an audited balance sheet to the Executive Committee which shall be circulated to all members.
Article 9	Regional Organisation of Members Members of IOBB shall be grouped by the Executive Committee according to location. In each area one Member chosen by the Executive Committee will act as area representative (e.g. Europe, Asia&Oceania, Central & Southern Africa, Far East, Latin America, North America, Middle East) and shall be responsible for liaison between the Executive Committee and the Members in the area. Members of the Executive Committee can also act as area representative.
Article 10	Signature and Certification of Documents Contracts and legal documents, other than those involved in the payment of accounts or other dispersements of funds, shall be signed by the Chairman and one other elected member of the Executive Committee, after approval of the Executive Committee.
Article 11	Meetings and Quorums Ordinary meetings of the Members shall be held at intervals coinciding with those of the International Biotechnology Symposium, but not more than 4 years and at times and places determined by the Executive Committee. Extraordinary meetings may be held at any time determined by the Executive Committee. Meetings of the Executive Committee shall be held at such time as may be deemed desirable by the Chairman of the Executive Committee. Unless one-third of the Members present at the ordinary meetings of the Members call for a vote by postal ballot of all members, all decisions shall be taken by simple majority of the Members present. Members unable to attend may appoint a proxy, provided that this is done in writing to the Secretary. Two-thirds of the membership shall constitute a quorum for the meetings of the Executive Committee.
Article 12	Postal Ballots Where postal ballots are called for and acted upon, valid ballots received by the Secretary within three months of the date of issue, unless called for by a shorter time specified in the ballot, shall be counted and decision shall be by simple majority of the votes received.
Article 13	All Members shall enjoy: Full participation in the affairs of IOBB except where otherwise stated in the Statutes Receipt of copies of all publications of IOBB at a rate to be determined by the Executive Committee guided by the economic position of IOBB.
Article 14	Obligations of Membership No Member shall use its connections with IOBB to further the interest of its own or any other organisation except as provided in the Statutes. IOBB shall not be responsible for the utterances or acts of any individual Member.
Article 15	Sub-Committees The Executive Committee shall establish such subcommittees as appropriate for proper functioning of IOBB or as requested from time to time by the Members. The Executive Committee shall have the power to determine the terms of reference of such sub-committees unless otherwise defined by the Members, and shall have the power to dissolve any sub-committee when, in the opinion of the Executive Committee, the task of the sub-committee has been accomplished or if the sub-committee has ceased to function effectively. In the later case, the Executive may, at its discretion, reconstitute the sub-committee and report its action to the next ordinary meeting of Members.
Article 16	Auditors The Members shall, on the advice of the Executive Committee, appoint auditors to audit annually the accounts of IOBB.
Article 17 (amended on 27 jan 2004	Amendments to the Statutes Proposals for amendments to the Statutes should be made in writing (preferably in an e-mail) to the Chairman. Such a proposal shall be submitted to a vote of the Executive Committee and can take effect if all members of the exe comm agrees. If not, it will be put to the full membership of IOBB for discussion and approval before it can take effect.