Statutes of the EMSN

Statutes of the Estonian Forest Certification Council (EMSN)
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1.1.    The official name of the association is Eesti Metsasertifitseerimise Nõukogu (further Council), in English Estonian Forest Certification Council
1.2.    The seat of the Council is the Republic of Estonia, Tallinn
1.3.    The main objective of the association is to promote sustainable forest management in Estonian forests through the development of a forest certification model appropriate for the conditions of Estonia and in compliance with the requirements of the Program for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (further PEFC); to raise with the activities of the Council the awareness for sustainable forest management, which include information and awareness trainings, seminars, conferences, the compilation and spreading of printed materials ect.
1.4.    In order to implement the above mentioned objectives the Council may apply for membership of implementation forest certification organizations and convene working groups to draft certification systems
1.5.    The accounting period of the Council shall begin on January 1 and end   December 31.
1.6.    The Council is founded for an indefinite term. The Council shall act according to the legislation and these Statutes.
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2.1. Any legal person (further: member) guided by the principles of sustainable forest management, willing to contribute to the achieving of joint objective and supporting the principles of PEFC can apply for membership of the Council.
2.2. Admission of new members shall be decided by the Board of the Council on the basis of written application by the applicant.
2.3. In addition to the application the applicant shall submit:
a) a statement in support of the membership by a competent institution
b) a copy of the Statutes of the legal person and a copy of the registration card
[….]
2.6. Upon termination of membership the member shall submit a written application describing the reason for the termination of the membership. The applicant shall be excluded from the list of members by the decision of the Board of the Council.
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2.9. All interested persons irrespective of the membership in the Council may participate in the drafting of the Estonian PEFC certification scheme.

3.1. Each member of the Council shall be entitled:
a) to participate and have a voting right in the General Assembly
b) to propose candidates for the election of the members of the Board
c) to get information from the Board of the Council about the activities of the Council
d) to terminate the membership in the Council
3.2. Each member of the Council shall be obliged:
a) to fulfill the requirements of the Statutes and the decisions of the General Assembly and the Board
b) to pay an annual subscription fee at a rate and according to the procedure determined by the General Assembly
c) to submit its name and address to the Board for keeping record and inform about any changes within a month
d) to pay annual subscription for the current financial year even if the membership is determinate before the end of the current financial year

4.1. The General Assembly decides upon the annual subscription fee.
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5.1. The highest institution in the Council is the General Assembly, it consists of all members of the Council and is authorized to make decisions on the matters concerning the activities of the Council not provided in the legislation and Statutes as the functions of the Board.

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5.3. Each member of the General Assembly has one vote.
5.4. The General Assembly is authorized to take decisions independent from the number of members present, if this Assembly has been announced at least 7 days before the date of the Assembly.
5.5. The General Assembly will work out the subscription fees and payment regulation.
5.6. The General Assembly confirms the subscription fees and the payment regulations
[….]

6.2. The Board members shall be elected for 3 years. The General Assembly can recall the Board.
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6.7. The Chairman of the Board will be elected by the Board for three years. The Chairman has the same voting rights as other members.
[….]

7.4. The Council is not responsible for the commitments and duties of its members.
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