Rules for the member network

The basic idea of the Food Data Finland network is to enable an open and equal meeting of all parties committed to the development of the food chain and bring together parties interested in different development themes to implement joint development projects to strengthen the transparency, functionality and efficiency of the food chain. In order to ensure the meetings and promote joint development, the Food Data Finland organises a member network for the use and utilisation for different parties. The network can be joined and is open to everyone for participation under the conditions described in this document.

Joining the member network is possible for all Finnish and international organisations that undertake to comply with the rules of the member network and pay the applicable membership fee. The coordinator of the network has the right to use the organisation included in the member network (name and logo of the organisation) as a reference in the communication about the network.

Members:

• participate in the dialogue with the management team about the operating principles, vision, and goals of the network
• can propose themes for the agenda of the member network and for management group consideration
• can influence the policies of the network's research and innovation activities and participate in the planning of joint projects
• get access to the cooperation facilitation service offered by the network
• get to utilise all the new information generated through the cooperation of the network in the development of the food chain's data value chain
• can use the information produced in cooperation with the network in the development of their own business (however, while respecting the trade secrets of others)
• get to take advantage of the networks in Finland and Europe
• get up-to-date information on the international development of food chains
• can participate in sub/theme group activities established by the network if they wish
• can use the expertise of the network in the preparation of joint projects. 

The member network meets several times a year for events that promote network cooperation in the food chain. The events are themed around topics that promote food chain cooperation and joint development projects. The member can propose additional meetings to be implemented either for the entire network or for sub-/theme groups established by the network.

All members must commit to the following cooperation principles: 

• promoting the goals of the network
• joint development of the food chain
• open and solution-oriented cooperation and exchange of information
• providing human resources to support joint development
• identification and planning of thematic joint development entities
• open sharing of information related to the development of a shared food chain
• utilising open, interoperable, global standards
• mutual protection of trade secrets of participating parties. 

Commitment to compliance with competition law regulations and their application practices

Those who participate in the network's management, meetings and working groups or other similar bodies should always remember that the purpose of the group is to improve the ability of all industry members to compete more effectively and offer better added value to the consumer or end user. Since the operation of the member network almost always involves the cooperation of competitors, it is necessary to ensure that the competition laws are followed. This means: 

• Participation must be voluntary and non-participation must not be used to penalise any company.
• It is not allowed to discuss prices, customer or product sharing, boycotts, refusal to trade or market share.
• If any participant believes that the group is drifting into an unauthorised discussion, the subject must be postponed until an attorney's opinion can be obtained.
• Meetings follow a pre-prepared agenda, which is recorded in a memorandum or minutes prepared immediately after the meeting.
• The management or working groups of the network only give recommendations and are not binding on an individual company. Individual companies are free to make their own independent, competitive decisions.
• Any standards developed must be voluntary. 

Member network copyrights related to cooperation

The copyright and other intellectual property rights of the documents and other written results created as a result of the network cooperation belong to the coordinator of the network, unless otherwise agreed. 

However, a member of the network has unlimited access to the information that he has acquired during the network cooperation, and which he has learned as a result of the network cooperation. However, the member does not acquire any rights to the information and intellectual property rights that he has received from the coordinator of the network or from other members of the member network during the project, unless otherwise agreed.

Any copyright and intellectual property rights that precede the Food Data Finland's member network cooperation or arise in other projects and are held by them are not transferred to the member as a result of the member network cooperation.  

Participation in project development

Joining the member network does not oblige you to participate in or finance the joint development projects of the Food Data Finland. The member also has the right to choose which development project to participate in. The parties to each development project decide themselves about the conditions and details related to the implementation of their project.

The members of the network must pay an annual membership fee, the amount of which is graduated according to the nature of the organisation's operations and turnover as follows:

• large companies, turnover over 10 million €: 5 000 €/year
• SMEs, turnover 1–10 million €: 2 000 €/year
• small businesses, turnover less than 1 million €: 1 000 €/year
• universities and research institutes: 2 000 €/year
• non-profit and public organisations: 1 000 €/year 

The member joins the network until further notice and the membership is automatically renewed one year at a time, unless the member withdraws from the membership by separately notifying the coordinator of the network two months before the end of the invoicing year of the network. Membership fees are paid every year starting from the start of the Food Data Finland. Each invoicing year starts on 1 June and ends the following year on 31 May.

The member network decides separately on the establishment of possible subgroups or theme groups and their rules are in accordance with the spirit of the general principles and terms of these rules.

Each member is responsible for his own expenses arising from participating in the network activities. 

A member can leave the network:

• when the membership fee period changes: by notifying GS1 Finland two months before the end of the period
• in the middle of the membership fee period: by notifying GS1 Finland, no refund.

• Disagreements between the coordinator and/or members are resolved through negotiations between the parties.
• If the negotiations do not reach a solution that satisfies the parties, the disagreements will be resolved in accordance with the arbitration procedure rules of the The Arbitration Institute of the Finland Chamber of Commerce. The arbitration court has one member. The place of arbitration is Helsinki.
• Finnish law applies to this regulation.