ISC Associate Member Category Value proposition The International Stevia Council (ISC) - the authoritative voice of the stevia industry - has introduced a new membership category, the Associate Member, in October 2012. With this new membership category, the ISC aims at engaging with all players in the stevia value chain in order to promote together stevia as a naturally-sourced low-calorie solution to the current food and beverage demographic macro-trends. The direct value of the associate members in joining ISC is the opportunity to address issues of common interest and consider the possibility for collective actions within all the players of the stevia value chain. The processors and/or manufacturers and marketers of stevia sweetener products who are the Full Members of the ISC share common interests and values with all the other stakeholders in the stevia value chain in ensuring that stevia s benefits continue to be recognized by different audiences worldwide. Who is an associate member? Any company engaged in the stevia business falling in one of the following categories can become an associate member of the International Stevia Council (ISC): a) Farmers and growers of stevia b) Traders including distributors and users of stevia such as manufacturers of table tops and other food and drink companies c) Regional and local stevia associations (whose members are primarily companies that process and/or manufacture and market a stevia sweetener product) Benefits: Associate members receive a variety of benefits, including: Speaking opportunities at events organised by the ISC on issues related to the stevia value chain. Ability to receive regulatory updates related to stevia issues at international level in the form of a biannual newsletter. Participation twice per year at a webinar with the ISC Committees where the Committees will report on their relevant current and future activities. Access to ISC members through contact list and opportunity to meet ISC members at key ISC events. Invitation to participate at ISC events at a reduced rate. Ability to submit urgent issues for consideration by the ISC s Board of Directors. Discounted price to participate at the Proficiency Testing Program associate members will receive a discount on the full price of the PTP in case they wish to subscribe to the Proficiency Testing Program (this benefits primarily traders and other users of stevia). Access to the intranet of the ISC website dedicated to associate members. Ability to use the special logo for Associate Member of the International Stevia Council Ability to propose issues and ideas for potential projects to be carried out by ISC together with the associate members. The projects submitted will be evaluated by the Board which will make recommendation to the ISC General Assembly for adoption. The projects retained will be carried out by Task Forces created on an ad hoc basis and with funds shared between ISC and those associate members that wish to participate. Page 1
Rights and obligations Rights: can submit urgent issues for consideration by the ISC Board of Directors can make reference to their associate membership in the International Stevia Council through the special logo of associate members of the International Stevia Council can submit proposals for projects to be carried out by the ISC together with the associate members to the Board and the GA of the ISC Associate members cannot be elected to the ISC Board and the Executive Committee and cannot participate in the ISC General Assembly and have no voting rights in the ISC. They cannot participate in the work of the ISC Working Committees. Obligations: to pay their dues entirely upfront to abide by the Code of Conduct, including the anti-trust guidelines, and to any internal rules or Board resolutions of ISC which apply to them. Non-payment of the dues is a reason for an associate member to be expelled from the ISC. Dues: Associate members pay 6,000 US Dollar per year. Exceptionally, however, farmers and growers of stevia and regional and national stevia associations shall pay 50% of the associate members dues. If 5 or more members of a regional or national association participate in the PTP in any given year, the associate member dues of that regional or national association will be reduced by 5% in the following year *** Page 2
Application Form for Associate Members in the International Stevia Council Please return the completed form by post, fax or email to: Maria Teresa Scardigli, Executive Director International Stevia Council Avenue Jules Bordet, 142 B-1140 Brussels Belgium Tel: + 32 (0)2 761 16 51 : + 32 (0)2 761 16 99 Email: GlobalOffice@internationalsteviacouncil.org The following company would like to apply for Associate Membership in the International Stevia Council: APPLICANT Company name Address Country General e-mail Website MAIN REPRESENTATIVE Name Position E-mail Mobile Page 3
SUBSTITUTE REPRESENTATIVE Name Position E-mail Mobile APPLICATION INFORMATION Company/organization is: a) Farmers and growers of stevia b) Traders including distributors and other users of stevia such as manufacturers of table tops and food and drink companies c) Regional and local stevia associations (whose members are primarily companies that process and/or manufacture and market a stevia sweetener product) Please indicate in which category a), b), & c) your company falls and how your companies activities relate to Stevia Page 4
Proof of your company s existence in law Please attach a copy of a recent extract from the register of companies proving your company s existence in law. Alternatively, please provide some other satisfactory evidence of your company s existence in law. The Undersigned hereby declares the following: I hereby confirm my agreement to the Rights and Obligations of the Associate Members of the International Stevia Council as described in this document. My organization commits to pay the annual membership fees upfront and in accordance with the level described in this document. I understand that this application will be subject to confirmation by the General Assembly of the International Stevia Council. Date/Place: Name (Block Capitals): Signature: Page 5