CFG
03/01 rev. 3
Membership
categories and rules
Organisations (full members)
Consumer/Lay Representatives
Observers
Policy-making
Post-holders
Election procedures
Foodaware; the Consumers’ Food Group has been set up to coordinate
the broad UK consumer movement’s work on food safety, nutrition
and standards. Our mission is to give UK consumers a strong voice
on food policy by bringing together the organisations that represent
them. We also consult and support the UK consumer representatives
on food related committees, and further the public understanding of
science.
We have the benefit of a contract from the Food Standards Agency and
a Secretariat provided by European Research into Consumer Affairs,
a European consumer organisation with UK charitable status. Foodaware
developed from the Food and Agriculture Working Party of Consumers
in Europe Group. Our members are consumer, women’s and enforcement
organisations, who contribute time and expertise to our representations.
1. Membership categories
and rules
New member organisations shall be admitted by the full group on the
recommendation of the Steering Committee. The following groups will
be eligible for membership of the group:
A. Organisations (full
members)
Organisations will be eligible if they comply with all of the following
points:
- have a clear interest in food topics
- act for and on behalf of consumers on a broad range of food
issues
- are non-commercial / non-profit;
- are independent of political parties, government and business;
- have a significant membership;
- are a national organisation (including Scotland, Wales and Northern
Ireland).
Each organisation will be asked to:
- confirm that it fulfils all of the above criteria for membership
e.g. send a copy of its constitution and Annual Report, or equivalent;
- nominate a main representative to receive papers and be the
main attendee at meetings;
- nominate two alternates to stand in and attend meetings etc
if the main representative is unable to do so.
Cases in doubt will be referred in the first instance to the Steering
Group. If necessary, queries can be raised with the full group.
Such organisations will be full members and be able to vote.
B. Consumer/Lay Representatives
Consumer or lay representatives on Food Standards Agency, Defra (including
Veterinary Medicines Directorate and Pesticides Safety Directorate
etc), Department of Health and EU food-related committees will be
invited to be non-voting members during their term of office.
C. Observers
Other organisations and experts may be invited to become non-voting
Observers.
All categories of members will be entitled to attend meetings, receive
papers, join the Foodaware electronic mailing list and contribute
papers and expertise to the Group.
2. Policy-making
Decisions on policy will normally be made by consensus. If necessary,
a two-thirds vote by full Organisation members present will be sufficient.
Decisions by electronic mailing list will be made on the same principle,
with reasonable effort to involve any members not on email.
3. Post-holders
Foodaware will have one Chair and two Vice-Chairs. Normally they will
serve up to three years before re-election, but the first Chair will
serve two years so that the two sets of elections are separate.
The Chair, two Vice-Chairs and a nominated representative of ERICA
will constitute the Steering Committee of Foodaware. It will make
recommendations to the full Group about eligibility for membership
and help to forward the business of the Group between meetings.
4. Election procedures
All members, whatever category, shall be eligible to nominate a fellow
member. Members shall normally have a month to nominate. Only representatives
of full organisation members shall be eligible to stand for the positions
of Chair and Vice-Chairs.
Only full organisation members of Foodaware shall vote, either at
a Group meeting, or, if so arranged, by postal ballot. Members who
cannot be represented at the meeting may delegate their vote in writing.
As an umbrella organisation, Foodaware will not normally join other
organisations. The full group shall decide upon links with other organisations,
on recommendation by the Steering Committee.
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