Application for Membership
The membership application process is different for the three membership categories.
Trading members
5 steps towards membership.
Membership status is achieved after the following 5 steps have been followed successfully.
Step 1.
Prospective trading members are required to fill in an application form and submit it to the Secretariat. By submitting the membership application form, the applicant commits to the Union’s membership conditions.
Step 2.
The application form will be reviewed by the Union’s membership committee which will check if the applicant is eligible for membership. Eligible applicants are given the approved candidate status and are invited to continue with step 3.
Step 3.
Within six months of being awarded the approved candidate status, the applicant must undergo an independent third party audit by one of the auditing organisations qualified by the Union. In addition to assessing compliance with the baseline requirements for membership, the audit will provide a gap analysis outlining the issues that need to be addressed to achieve full compliance with the Union’s verification framework.
Step 4.
Assuming the audit confirms that the applicant meets the baseline requirements for membership, the applicant will then be required to prepare a work-plan that leads the organisation towards compliance with the Union’s verification framework.
Step 5.
Submission of the work-plan to the Union. After this work-plan is evaluated and approved by the Union, full membership status will be awarded once the membership fee is paid.
Maintaining membership status
Trading members will maintain their membership status as long as the annual membership fee is paid and they can show progress in the implementation of their work-plans, in line with the procedures established by the Union (see verification).
Affiliate members
Prospective affiliate members can obtain membership in 2 steps.
Step 1.
Prospective Affiliate members are required to fill in an application form and submit it to the Secretariat. By submitting the membership application form, the applicant commits to the Union’s membership conditions. Affiliate members need to indicate if they comply with the minimum requirements of Ethical BioTrade, and show how they will implement these commitments before being accepted as a member of the Union.
Step 2.
Revision of the membership committee of the Union. If the application is approved, full membership will be awarded on payment of the membership fee.
Maintaining membership status
Affiliate members will be required to submit periodic updates on their activities in support of the Principles and Criteria of Ethical BioTrade, as well as pay their annual membership fees.