Regulations for Association of Latvian Organic Agriculture
1. General rules:
1.1. Association is a professional, non-state organization, in which organic food producers, processors and tradesmen as well as organic food production supporters have united.
1.2. Association has juridical person status and is working according to rules established by the Latvia Republic and in conformity with its rules and regulations.
1.3. The full name of Association is as follows:
- In Latvian: LATVIJAS BIOLOĢISKĀS LAUKSAIMNIECĪBAS ASOCIĀCIJA (LBLA);
- In English: ASSOCIATION OF LATVIAN ORGANIC AGRICULTURE (ALOA);
- In German: VERBAND DER LETTISCHEN FUR BIOLOGISCHEN LANDBAU (VLBL);
- In Russian: ЛАТВИЙСКАЯ АССОЦИАЦИЯ ОРГАНИЧЕСКОГО СЕЛЬСКОГО ХОЗЯЙСТВА (ЛАОСХ)
Juridical address: Faculty of Agriculture, 2 Liela iela, Jelgava, LV 3001
2. The main tasks:
2.1. Facilitate organic food supplies to consumers;
2.2. Inform and educate society about organic agriculture and its perspectives, environmental problems, the role of organic food in society health protection in the whole world and in Latvia;
2.3. Move proposals in legislative organs to reach improvement in Iegislation;
2.4. Participation of the Association members in the State power and administration work, which is directed towards agriculture development in Latvia and organic food quality;
2.5. Promote cooperation between Association member organisations and social organisations in Latvia and abroad;
2.6. Every member must assume responsibility for keeping Association prestige avoiding dishonest way of farming and lessened belief in organic quality products;
2.7. Provide training opportunities for Latvian farmers and food producers to build their knowledge in organic food production collaborating with educational establishments in Latvia;
2.8. Encourage elaboration and realization of various projects connected with organic agriculture.
3. Structure:
3.1. General meeting is higher decision-making institution competent to settle all questions connected with Association activities. When participating in general meeting, members realize their rights of taking part in administration activities. General meeting or emergency meeting is called by the Association Council to requirement, but not rare than once a year. Only general meeting is competent to admit members, change statute and structure of the Association, release and elect president, the Association Council and members of Inspection Committee, confirm statute for the Association activities, fix the entrance-fee and dues.Each member has 1 (one) vote in general meeting.
3.2. Accociation Council is constantly functionating manager institution. Numerical strength of the Council is decided by general meeting. The Council is elected for three years. The Council elects chairman out of its members and divide duties among the members of the Council.
Association Council:
- Admits members-supporters;
- Moves proposals for general meeting;
- Introduces annual report, cost estimate, income distribution projects and other necessary documents to general meeting;
- Set numerical and professional strength of hired workers as well as remuneration for their work.
All the questions being within the Council's competence are settled collegiately in the Council session, which is competent to take decisions in case of the presence of at least one representative from each Council division. Activities and representation functions without emergency powers on behalf of Association is realized by President and Chairman of the Council by mutual agreement on distribution of duties.
3.3. Association President is elected for 3 (three years) by general meeting. For one person the President post is not allowed for more than two terms in succession. President is representing Association keeping up relations with the Councol in between general meetings and is running activities of general meetings.
3.4. The Council is electing chairman. He (she) is running activities of the Council and is acting for President in his (her) absence.
3.5. The Council is engaging hired Director (or office manager). Director (or office manager) is responsible for office-work, bookkeeping and membership register, he (she) is recording sessions of the Council.
4.Finances:
4.1. Dues from farms whose area is to 10 ha and individual members Ls 10 yearly;
4.2. Dues from farms whose area is 11 - 20 ha - Ls 20 yearly;
4.3. Dues from farms whose area is 21 - 50 ha - Ls 30 yearly;
4.4. Dues from farms whose area is 51 - 100 ha - Ls 40 yearly;
4.5. Dues from farms whose area is 101 - 500 ha, also to processors and cooperatives - Ls 50 yearly;
4.6. Dues from farms whose area is 500 ha - Ls 60 yearly;
4.7. Members are paying to regional organizations the activities of which are ensured by 25 % of the collected dues, which are left at their disposal.
5. Informtion system:
Any information received from the Association Council, leaders of agriculture related branches or partners of collaboration is delivered to a senior official of the organization or regional department whose duty is to inform members of his organization.
Specific information in agriculture related branch and consultations each member can receive from head of the corresponding branch.
6. Internal audit and responsibility of members:
Each regional department head or other authorized person is becoming acquainted with agricultural holdings of his members and confirms application for getting subsidies. In case the possible amount of subsidies does not meet the requirements of applications, they are reconsidered in the Council session and resolved for more purposeful use in the development of the corresponding branch.
In case of any discrepancy to the Standard (Provisions of the Cabinet), anyone of Association members must do his duty and inform Association Council about it and ask certification institution to organize inspection over and above the plan.Members, which have not got organic agriculture certificate or at least the second transition year certificate are not competent of realising their output in organic agriculture markets and utilize ALOA products label.
