Article 1: The Association

Article 2: Headquarters

The headquarters are located in Paris:

40 rue de Monceau
75008 Paris
France

They may be transferred by simple decision of the Board of Directors.

 

Article 3 : The objectives of the Association

The objectives of the Association are:

• To carry out research and provide information on genetic engineering and its impact in the fields of biology, the environment, agriculture, food, medicine and public health. That is, natural and artificial impacts, whether intentional or accidental; the short, medium and long term effects will be questioned in relation to human health and the living ecosystem as a whole. The scientific information will be of high quality; the Committee will be working under the aegis of a Scientific Council which will determine the priorities according to their potential impact and according to the available and verifiable knowledge, on public health and the environment.     

• To publicize the collected information, once it has been processed through the verification procedures which have been  set up by CRIIGEN itself:

- For the attention of our members,

- For the attention of user groups (such as organizations/associations, unions, cooperatives, municipalities...)

- For the attention of the public at large, through the media, by publishing brochures, leaflets, and by organizing public meetings, conferences, etc...

• To create a research and analysis laboratory, and/or to sub-contract such research and analytical work for our own investigations, or  on behalf of individuals, local authorities, companies, professional groups, organizations...     
• To make every effort towards the removal of the status of secrecy prevailing in genetic engineering experiments and concerning the Genetically Modified crops  (GMOs), both being likely to have an impact on the environment and/or on health. 
• To develop methods to avoid the spread of genetic pollution. 
• To develop a general interest in all the effects on ecosystems, and more specifically in all the pathologies related to the environment and to pollutions. CRIIGEN is likely to intervene in those fields to develop research or actions (including legal actions) in accordance with its specific area of competence and the decisions of the Board of Directors. CRIIGEN will use the new term "ecogenetic" to qualify the relationship between the environment and genetics, and more specifically to develop studies on the effects of pollution by GMOs or chemicals pollutants on DNA.
• To contribute, without restrictions and more specifically to study the effects of pollutions disseminated throughout France, and therefore contribute to the protection of the environment and health. Such pollutions may be air-borne, or in the soil, or in water, with various impact on biodiversity and human organisms.

To achieve its objectives, i.e. to protect the environment, biodiversity and health, the Association can go to court and/or associate in a court action with the public prosecutor.

The Association reserves its right to extend its activities to other fields than genetical engineering in medicine or agriculture, whenever it deems necessary.

Article 4 : Independence of the Association

The Association declares to be independent from the authorities, whether civil or military, and from any other outside organization, whatever it may be, and not under any individual or collective authority, where its objectives or its modus operandi are concerned.

 

Article 5 : Scope of Action of the Association

The Association carries out its activities en France, en Europe and possibly on other continents, with the ability to sign contracts with other existing associations or organizations.

 

Article 6 : The Members of the Association

The Association includes:

Corresponding members, that is individuals who want to join,  but who do not wish to take part in the votes, nor be candidates to the elected positions. They may take part in the General Meetings, in an advisory capacity. They are entitled to all the information given to the other members. They pay for a membership.     

Active members are individuals who are committed to take part in the proceedings and votes of the General Meetings (or to be represented by someone else). They may be candidates to the elected positions and be elected. They are entitled to all the information given to the other members. They pay for a membership.     

Associate members are legal entities. Their application needs to be ratified by the majority vote of the Board of Directors. An associate member who has been accepted mandates officially its representative to the Association (an incumbent and a deputy). The representative acts as the person in charge of the entity that mandated him or her and enjoys, within the Association, the prerogatives of the active members.

Article 7: Membership is lost by:

Membership is lost by: resignation, death, termination pronounced by the Board of Directors after the member in question has been invited beforehand to be present before the General Meeting (and given the opportunity to appeal against the termination). The Internal Rules of Procedure will specify how to proceed. 

Article 8: Resources of the Association

The Resources of the Association may include:

• Memberships
• Subsidies, in cash or in kind
• Public subsidies
• The proceeds from fund-raising events
• The proceeds from parties or fund-raising events organized upon the initiative of the Association
• The proceeds from the sale of documents, brochures or more generally from the provision of services the Association can offer in accordance with its objectives
• Contributions in terms of movable property or property effected in compensation for contracts mutually signed or accepted.

Article 9: The Scientific Board

The Association is provided with a Scientific Board gathering outstanding scientists, recognised by their peers or a public institution in their field. The Scientific Board includes a sufficient number of scientists to cover all the disciplines concerned by the effects of genetic engineering. The scientists are appointed by the Bureau, with a ratification by a majority vote of the Board of Directors, and they are exempted from paying for their membership. They may be represented by a deputy.
 

Article 10: The General Meeting

The General Meeting of the Association includes all members. Please note that the corresponding members are only there in an advisory capacity and do not take part in the votes.

The General Meeting meets once in the calendar year.

The written notification is sent at least a month in advance, along with the agenda of the session which will necessarily include a “miscellaneous questions” section.

The General Meeting is chaired by the President or, if not available, by the Vice-President, or else by  a member of the Board of Directors duly appointed (for that purpose).The decisions register will include all the documents appended to the written notification, as well as the minutes of the meeting.

Normally the votes take place with a show of hands raised-hand votes unless there is a specific request from  one of the members entitled to vote.

The decisions submitted to vote will be taken with a simple majority of the present or represented recognised members entitled to vote.

The General Meeting is recognized as being capable of deliberating and of deciding if the present or represented number of members entitled to vote is greater than or equal to half the members entitled to vote. In the event of the quorum not being reached, a new assembly should be summoned within a fortnight. During the new assembly the required majority shall be that of the present or represented members entitled to vote, whatever the quorum may be.

 

Article 11: The Board of Directors

The Board of Directors runs the Association between two General Meetings.
The members of the Board of Directors must be entitled to vote, and elected by the General Meeting with a simple majority for six years.
The Board of Directors is renewable per third every other year. In the first two years, the retiring members are picked at random. The retiring members are eligible for re-election.
The Board of Directors includes at least 9 members and 25 at the most.
It sets up commissions and ratifies projects.
It ratifies the application of associate members and active members.
The Board signs contracts with other associations and with local authorities and various bodies and organizations.
The Board of Directors can mandate the President to act on any major commitment, and exerts its control.
The Board prepares activity and orientation reports.
It exerts a permanent control on the operation of the leadership of the Association; each member is entitled to consult all the notebooks, registers, documents, mail and accounts of the association.

Each member of the Board of Directors must respect all the decisions and recommendations put forward by the Board of Directors, the Bureau and the President. Taking into account the importance and even seriousness of certain pieces of information he or she might be holding, the member will have to make sure he or she conforms with the directives that have been given to him or her to avoid putting the Association in a difficult position.

In case of a serious fault, a member of the Board of Directors may be expelled, however after an interview and a confrontation before at least 2/3 of the members of the Board of Directors.

Any delegation for a vote must be done in writing. The members designated as proxy must be part of the Board of Directors; there is no permanent delegation. One person can only hold one proxy.
The decisions of the Board of Directors can only be taken with a majority.
The local representation will be taken into account and defined in the Internal Rules of Procedure.
The Board of Directors meets at least once every quarter.
The Board of Directors gives authority to the President to go to court to defend the objectives of CRIIGEN.

 

Article 12 : The Bureau

On a yearly basis, the Board of Directors will elect, among its members, a Bureau by secret ballot,  with a 2/3 majority. It will be composed of at least:

• A President   
• A Vice-President 
• A Secretary
• A Deputy Secretary
• A Treasurer
• A Deputy Treasurer.
  

The respective roles of the Bureau Members are specified in the Internal Rules of Procedure.
The Bureau is the executive body and the representative entity of the Association for external affairs and relations.
It makes sure that the Articles of Association are abided by and ensures a smooth operation of all administrative procedures within the Association, such as the sending of written notifications, or the reports pertaining to the General Meetings, and to the meetings of the Board of Directors.
It ensures the smooth running of the Association.
The Bureau coordinates the work of the various commissions and sub-commissions defined by the Internal Rules of Procedure.
It decides upon the creation or removal of other commissions than those that exist in full right.
The Bureau must be mandated by the Board of Directors to carry out major commitments for the Association.
The Bureau suggests a strategy for the Association.
It reports its activities to the Board of Directors.
It ensures the financial follow-up, the treasurer taking all the necessary steps towards this goal.

The Board of Director mandates the President or the Vice-President to go to Court and to represent the Association before the courts.

 

Article 13 : Internal Rules of Procedure

The Internal Rules of Procedure are established by the Board of Directors and submitted to the General Meeting. They will include all the necessary details on the operation of the Association, in accordance with the present Articles of Association and the current legislation.

 

Article 14 : Extraordinary General Meeting

The President can, upon his own initiative, summon an Extraordinary General Meeting. He or she must do so upon the request of at least half the members of the Board of Directors, or a 1/3 of active members.

The written notification must be sent at least a month in advance, and it is addressed to all members.

The agenda will necessarily include the questions raised by the President or by the Board Directors if the meeting is called upon its initiative.

 

Article 15 : Modification of the Articles of Association - Dissolution