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Benefits | Duties | Applying for membership | Ending membership

.:: Membership to the EuroBioBank Network

Benefits attached to membership

Benefits of membership to the EuroBioBank Network include :

• Being involved in a highly visible and reputed European Network of biobanks dedicated to Rare Diseases;

• Displaying collections in the general EuroBioBank Network catalogue published on the EuroBioBank Network website;

• Being listed on the EuroBioBank Network website;

• Using the EuroBioBank name and logo, in accordance with the rules established by the General Assembly;

• Accessing the EuroBioBank Network Intranet;

• Having a privileged access to know-how and services provided by other Members.

Duties attached to membership

Members of the EuroBioBank Network undertake :

• To comply with the principles defined in the Charter

• To have referenced BRC activities (collection, preparation, storage and distribution of biological material) and to comply with minimum quality standards as defined by the OECD;

• To follow the recommendations of the EuroBioBank Network on the Material Transfer Agreement (MTA), the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), the Informed Consent form and the biological material sample catalogues;

• To comply with all applicable national and European laws and regulations in the field of biological samples management and distribution, for research purposes;

• To ensure the accuracy of any information on the materials it supplies to the EuroBioBank Network and to promptly correct any error therein of which it is notified

• To pay an annual membership fee as determined by the General Assembly

• To publish and regularly update (as determined by the General Assembly) the information on their biological material samples published in the EuroBioBank Network catalogue, according to the minimum data set requested by the EuroBioBank Network;

• To inform the EuroBioBank Network of publications resulting from the use of the biological samples provided though the EuroBioBank Network, and provide the administrative coordinator with electronic and hard copies of these publications;

• To actively contribute to the EuroBioBank Network: regular attendance to meetings, promotion of the EuroBioBank Network, research of external financial support, contributions and feedback on different topics of common interest presented by the coordinators or other Members;

• To act at all times in good faith and in a manner that reflects the good name, goodwill and reputation of the EuroBioBank Network and in accordance with good business ethics.

Applying for membership

Candidates should apply for membership to the coordinators. Appropriate candidates are private or institutional Biological Ressources Centres (BRCs) meeting all criteria defining a BRC.

Applications for membership to the EuroBioBank Network shall be submitted in writing, by returning the Membership Application Form available from the EuroBioBank web site duly completed to one of the Coordinators.

Applicants for membership shall also provide a letter describing the applicant's structure and activities, the reasons for joining the EuroBioBank Network and their potential added-value for the EuroBioBank Network.

Once approved by the coordinators, a temporary membership is conferred to the applicant, until a full membership is confirmed by the General Assembly.

During the temporary membership, the new Member's name shall be inscribed on the official list of "new applicants for EBB membership" published on the EBB website.

The General Assembly may reject any application to membership, under its sole discretion, without having to duly justify the rejection. Any decision of the General Assembly shall be final.

If an application is accepted, the administrative Coordinator shall notify the applicant in writing and add the new Member's name in the official list of EuroBioBank Members upon full payment of the requested annual membership fee. New Member's benefits and duties begin after positive confirmation of the membership by the General Assembly. Signature of the Membership Application Form by the new Member implies full adherence to the Charter principles.

Ending membership

Any EBB member can voluntary withdraw from membership:

through a written declaration sent to the coordinators until September 30 which has effect from the end of the calendar year

or can be excluded from the EuroBioBank Network, with immediate effect and without judicial intervention:

1. through a vote of the General Assembly if any action damaging the interests of the EuroBioBank Network has been committed by the Member. The coordinators will notify the excluded Member within 7 days of the General Assembly decision ;

2. through a resolution of the coordinators, if a member is in arrears with the payment of his annual fees and has not, in spite of two written warnings, cured its breach ;

3. through a resolution of the coordinators, if a member seriously violates the one or several major principles of the Charter and has not, in spite of two written warnings, made any action to cure its breach.

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