ANIMAL HEALTH FORUM CONSTITUTION
ADOPTED at a special meeting held on 24 August 2011
1.NAME
The name of the Forum shall be “Animal Health Forum of South Africa”[hereinafter referred to as “the Forum”].
2.DEFINITIONS
Any expression used in this Constitution shall have the meaning assigned to it and for the purpose of clarity the following expressions shall have the following meanings:
2.1“Member”
shall mean any organisation or association that represents the interests of a directly affected group or commodity in the animal health and production industry, which has been accepted as a member of the Forum.
2.2“animal health and production industry”
means all participants engaged in the process of benefaction of animalhealth and production from the producer to the retailer, and shall include both the established and emerging participants in this sector.
2.3“directly affected group”
shall mean an association or group of participants in the commercial and emergent sectors of the health & production of animal products.
2.4 “animal health”
shall be taken to include animal welfare, as health and welfare are inextricably linked.
3.OBJECTIVES OF THE FORUM
3.1To provide leadership in securing outcomes that position South Africa as a world leader in terms of its animal health status, that protect the national herds / flocks, and that promote national and international market access both in the short and long term.
3.2To promote and improve the health status of the National Livestock Herds / Flocks in order to promote sustainable livestock production and food safety.
3.3To foster or stimulate effective disease control,and ensure safe food and related products.
3.4To foster and promote relations between the organised role players in the animalproduction industry such as Government, Veterinary groups, research groups, disease control laboratories - as well as between representatives of the Forum members, in all aspects concerning animal health and food safety.
3.5To promote, support or oppose, as necessary in the interests of animal health, disease control and food security: Any legislation or regulation or nationalhealth standard introduced by Central, Provincial or local Government bodies, and including any international Statutory Agencies, which could affect the Forum’s members.
3.6To promote acceptable national health standards aimed at meeting consumer and market requirements, both nationally and internationally.
3.7To encourage a code of conduct of all stake holders of the Forum such as to command the confidence and respect of thepublic in general.
3.8To address any issues relevant to the objectives of the Forum.
4.MEMBERSHIP
4.1The following Organisations and Associations shall be the FoundingMembers of the Forum under its new Constitution:
National Emergent Red Meat Producers Organisation
Onderstepoort Veterinary Institute
Racing South Africa
Red Meat Abattoir Association
Red Meat Producers Organisation
SA Feedlot Association
Milk South Africa
SA Mohair Growers Association
SA Ostrich Business Chambers
SA Pork Producers Organisation
SA Poultry Association
SA Studbook
SA Veterinary Association represented by the following:
- Pig Veterinary Society
- Livestock Health and Production Group
- Poultry Group
SA Woolgrowers Association
Wildlife Ranching South Africa
4.2Notwithstanding the above, any Organisation or Association satisfying the following criteria will qualify for membership of the Forum:
4.2.1Any organisation or association within the animal food production industry which can demonstrate majority national support of a particular sector where more than one organisation is active in that particular sector;
5.APPLICATION FOR MEMBERSHIP
5.1Applicants for membership of the Forum shall be considered by the Animal Health Forum at the next meeting following receipt of such application by theForum Secretary.
5.2Should admission to membership be refused by the Animal Health Forum, the applicant shall have the right of appeal to the next Annual General Meeting of the Forum.
5.3Any Member who has resigned or been expelled from membership of the Forum may be re-admitted to membership on suchterms and conditions as the Forum may determine.
5.4Any Member admitted to the Forum shall be bound by the provisions of this Constitution, and any amendments thereof as are effected from time to time and shall be bound by any rules or regulations and any resolution, and any code of ethics in force from time to time as passed by a competent authority within the terms of this Constitution.
5.5The Forum respects the right and functions of Members and their representatives.
6.FINANCE
6.1Entrance Fee
Each applicant for the Forum shall pay to the Forum a joining fee as determined by the Forum from time to time. The Forum respectively consists of paying and non-paying members
6.2Subscriptions
6.2.1Each Member shall pay to the forum an annual subscription,or equivalent donation,as determined by the Forum from time to time.
6.2.2The Forum may raise a special subscription upon its Members for any specific purpose from time to time.
6.2.3All dues to the Forum by Members shall become due and payable in advance on the first day of each and every new financial year. Failure to pay such dues can result in termination of that Member’s membership.
6.2.4The Financial year of the Forum shall be determined by the Forum from time to time.
6.2.5The funds of the Forum shall be applied to the payment of expenses.
6.2.6All monies due to the Forum shall be paid to the Bookkeeperor Secretary who shall deposit them in such financial institution as may be decided upon by the Forum.
7.ADMINISTRATION OF THE FORUM
7.1A Chairperson, vice-Chairand other officials shall be elected from the Members’ representatives in the Forum. Should more than one person be nominated for the office of Chairperson or any other official position, a ballot will be held.
7.2The Chairperson and / or vice-Chair term of office shall be two years;but they can be eligible for another termof two years.
8.POWERS OF THE FORUM
The Forum shall have the following powers in addition to any other powers mentioned in this Constitution:
8.1To conduct the ordinary business of the Forum and to further and promote any and all of its objectives and/or strategies.
8.2To appoint financial auditors should it be deemed necessary.
8.3To control the funds of the Forum and to apply the funds in such a manner as may be necessary to carry out its functions.
8.4To co-operate with other bodies or persons in furthering production animal health and food safety and security.
8.5To open, operate or close the banking account /s of the Forum and to control its finances.
8.6To approve, or refuse any application for membership.
8.7To suspend or expel any Member.
8.8To recover subscriptions and any other monies due to the Forum.
8.9To appoint Sub-Committees from its Members and to delegate powers to such Sub-Committees as may be required.
8.10To do all other things that it may consider conducive to the interests and efficient administration of the Forum or the promotion of its objectives.
8.11To co-opt persons / organisations to the Forum for the purposes of furthering the objectives of the Forum.
9.MEETINGS OF THE FORUM
9.1The Forum shall meet as often as may be necessary for the efficient transaction of the affairs of the Forum, but will meet at least every 4 months.
9.2Members of the Forum shall be given at least fourteen days written notice by the Forum Secretary of the time and place of a meeting and shall be furnished with an agenda indicating the nature of the business to be transacted, and any other relevant information.
9.3Special meetings may be called at shorter notice via the Chairpersonand/or Secretary at any time when requested to do so in writing by at least three Membersof the Forum in good standing.
9.4The quorum for any meeting of the Forum shall consist of one representative of at least 50% of the Members in good standing.
9.5At all meetings of the Forum, the minutes of the last preceding meeting shall be tabled by the Secretary and signed by the Chairperson after confirmation. A minute’s book will be kept.
9.6Decisions shall be reached by sufficient consensus in the overall interests of the animal health and production industry. In the event of consensus not being reached, the Chairperson shall,if asked to do so, declare a deadlock when a ballot will be held to determine the issue.
9.7In the event of a ballot being held as provided for in 9.6 above, or for the election of office bearers,each Member of the Forum in good standing shall have one vote each.
10.EXECUTIVE
10.1The Executive of the Forum will consist of 5 members being chosen annually at the Annual General Meeting and shall consist of a chairperson, vice-chairperson, secretary and two additional members.
10.2Chairperson of the Forum
The duties of the Chairperson, or in his absence the Vice-chair or appointed Chairperson, shall be to preside at meetings of the Forum and to enforce the observance of the Constitution, sign minutes of meetings after confirmation, act as spokesperson for the Forum on all matters agreed to by the Forum and generally perform such duties and functions as by usage and custom pertaining to such office.
10.3Secretary of the Forum
The Secretary shall generally carry out the duties and functions pertaining to such office and as instructed by the Forum from time to time.
10.4Secretariat of the Forum
The Secretariat will be chosen at any formal Members’ meeting and be confirmed annually. The secretariat must preferably be elected from amongst the Forum’s Members.
11.DISSOLUTION
11.1The Forum may be dissolved if two thirds of the Members entitled to vote, so decide by ballot.
11.2Upon dissolution of the Forum, the funds on hand should, after all liabilities have been met, be transferred to an organisation having similar aims and objectives, or failing this – be shared out equally amongst current Members in good standing.
12.ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
12.1The annual general meeting of the Forum shall be held on a date to be determined by the Forum, but not later than 6 months after Financial Year end.
12.2Each Member shall have one vote at the annual general meeting.
12.3All the Members shall receive at least twenty-one [21] days written notice of the date and venue of the annual general meeting.
12.4The following business of the Forum will, interalia be conducted at the annual general meeting:
12.4.1Presentation of a report on the activities of the Forum during the period under review
12.4.2Presentation and confirmation of the financial statements of the Forum
12.4.3Any matter which any Member refers to the Secretary twenty one days prior to the annual general meeting for inclusion in the agenda.
12.4.4All motions put to the annual general meeting which had been decided by a majority of Members present at the meeting, shall be referred to the Forum for consideration and action.
12.4.5Election ofa Chairperson and Vice-chairperson, and Office Bearersand the election of an audit committee.
13.AMENDMENTS
13.1Any of the provisions of this Constitution may be repealed, added to or amended on a two thirds majority of the Members of the Forum at a properly constituted general meeting, provided the Secretary received thirty days notice in writing of the proposed alteration and the Secretary shall duly notify the Members of the proposed alteration in writing twenty days prior to the general meeting.
SIGNED …………………….. On …………………………. At …………….…………….
Print name: ------
Title: ------
A duly appointed representative of the Member’s organisation:
…………………………………………………..………………………………….
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