ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION

CONSTITUTION AND AIMS OF THE UNION INTERNATIONALE DES ŒNOLOGUES

Art. 1 - The Union Internationale des Œnologues - Federation of the National Unions of Oenologists, is constituted for an unlimited period.
It is subject to the French law of 1 July 1901. It respects the regulations of its member countries.

Art. 2 - The members of the national Unions are exclusively people who hold the title of oenologist as recognised by law and/or who meet the Organisation International de la Vigne et du Vin's definition of the title and function of an oenologist, as follows:
A - definition: an oenologist is one who, in compliance with scientific and technical knowledge confirmed by a high school or university diploma, is able to perform the following defined functions with respect to good and legal practices:
B - functions: the functions of the oenologist are as follows:
a) to apply in a rational manner teaching received or drawn from scientific and technical documentation and where possible to perform technical research;
b) to contribute to the design and creation of technological equipment and materials to be used in the wine-making industry;
c) to participate in the establishment and cultivation of vineyards;
d) to assume full responsibility for the treatment of grape juices, wines and products deriving from grapes, and to ensure their conservation;
e) to carry out analysis (physical, chemical, microbiological and organoleptic) of the above-mentioned products and to study the results;
f) to be able to understand and evaluate the relationships between the economy and distribution of the product.
The members of the national Unions perform these functions in a professional capacity.

Art. 3 - The aims of the Union Internationale des Œnologues are:
a) to represent the national Unions at all international levels;
b) to ensure the professional defence of oenologists at every level and in any field;
c) to oppose the improper use of the title oenologist as defined by the O.I.V.;
d) to maintain cohesion, unity and contact between members of the national Unions;
e) to participate in any action having the purpose of obtaining from the Government unification of oenological legal practices, official methods of physical, chemical, microbiological and sensorial analysis and of representation of the results;
f) to participate in any action aimed at harmonising in all countries the level of knowledge required to obtain the legally recognised title of oenologist;
g) to participate in any action aimed at reserving to oenologists the responsibility of prescription and control of established oenological practices in all countries;
h) to represent and defend at an international level the legitimate interests of its members, establishing and maintaining in each single case the necessary relationships with the responsible bodies.

GENERAL REGULATIONS

Art. 4 - Legally constituted national Unions may be members of the Union Internationale des Œnologues in any country. Only one Union may join for each country: that Union will constitute the greatest number of the country's oenologists and will be the most representative.
4.1 â€" National Associations meeting the requirements set out in Article 2 may apply to join the Union Internationale des Œnologues. The General Assembly will decide regarding their eligibility to join. National Associations are admitted for three years as observer members. At the end of this period the General Assembly will deliberate over permanent admission.

REGISTERED OFFICE

Art. 5 - The registered office of the Union Internationale des Œnologues is in Paris in a nominally specified building. The selection of the building and the transfer of the office to a different address are the responsibility of the General Assembly of the Union.

ADMINISTRATION OF THE UNION
INTERNATIONALE DES ŒNOLOGUES

Art. 6.1 - Consultations, decisions and their execution with regard to administration of the Union are performed by the General Assembly, composed of delegates from each member country who vary in number according to the size of the single national Unions represented. The number is established by the Internal Regulations. The delegates must meet the following requirements:
a) each national Union nominates its delegates;
b) each delegate must practise the profession and have had his residence in the country he represents for at least three years;
c) a delegate may represent only one country.
6.2 - a) The General Assembly of the Union Internationale des Œnologues elects its own president, a maximum of three vice-presidents, secretary-general, treasurer and two auditors.
b) The General Assembly may decide to create specific Commissions for particular purposes for which the president, who is a member by right, appoints the chairman.
c) The president, vice-presidents, secretary-general and treasurer make up the Executive Committee which is responsible for settling all problems of a general nature, as well as preparing documents and resolutions to be submitted to the General Assembly.

Art. 7 - The president, vice-presidents, secretary-general and treasurer are elected for three years. They can be re-elected only once consecutively. Their mandate is tied to their belonging to a national Union but not to the mandate that they might hold within the scope of that Union.

Art. 8 - The president is responsible for correct application of the Articles of Association and the Internal Regulations.
The president represents the Union Internationale des Œnologues in every circumstance.
He approves the meeting agendas, presides over the Conferences and the meetings. He controls and is responsible for the transactions of funds together with the treasurer. He signs the minutes of the meetings jointly with the secretary-general. He is responsible for carrying out decisions taken by the General Assembly.

Art. 9 - a) In case of absence or impediment of the president or at the president's request, the first vice-president will assume all the president's duties. In case of impediment of the first vice-president or by delegation of the president, the second vice-president will substitute the first vice-president and likewise for the third. If necessary, other delegations may be conferred upon other delegates with the agreement of the General Assembly.
b) In case of permanent impediment or resignation of the president, he will be substituted by the first vice-president until the end of the current term and without new election. Likewise the first vice-president will be substituted by the second vice-president and likewise for the third, the position of the latter remaining vacant until the end of the three-year term. The same procedure will be followed in case of permanent impediment or resignation of the first vice-president and the post of the second vice-president will remain vacant.
A new term of three years will be voted upon only in the case that the president and vice-presidents are simultaneously impeded from performing their duties or simultaneously hand in their resignations.
c) In case of permanent impediment or resignation of the secretary-general or treasurer, these will be substituted until the end of the term in course by a member of the General Assembly decided by the Executive Committee.
d) The three-year mandate runs from the 1st January and ends three years later on 31st December.
e) The General Assembly of the Union is convened for new elections within the first three-month period following the expiry date of the mandate.
f) The outgoing president, secretary and treasurer hand over all minutes, accounts and documents in their keeping to their newly-elected successors within two months of the elections.

Art. 10 - The secretary-general prepares the meeting Agendas, deals with the mail, drafts the minutes of the assemblies, maintains and controls the files and organizes translation services. He drafts the report. If necessary, he manages the administration personnel and proposes their employment or dismissal to the General Assembly.

Art. 11 - The treasurer has the responsibility for all documents relating to accounting transactions. He collects membership fees, subsidies and bequests. He deposits them with a bank decided by the Executive Committee. He pays expenses according to the directives of the president and keeps the Executive Committee and the General Assembly informed of the Union's financial situation. At least once a year he presents the accounts and supplies the overall balance, checked by the auditors, and proposes the allocations for each financial year.

Art. 12 - The General Assembly of the Union meets at least once a year on the initiative of the president. The Commissions referred to in Art. 6 meet as often as required on their own initiative or, if necessary, at the president's request.

Art. 13 - All the elective posts in the Union are without payment. Expenses sustained in the performance of their functions are reimbursed on the basis of the methods described in the Internal Regulations.

Art. 14 - The General Assembly of the U.I.Πis qualified to:
1) discuss and approve or modify by a majority decision every text relating to the running and discipline of the U.I.Œ;
2) welcome, discuss, approve, modify or reject all requests or suggestions from the national Unions, members of the U.I.Œ;
3) grant or refuse membership to the National Unions. The Committee of the Union Internationale des Œnologues is not required to justify its decisions.
4) bring actions and appeals before the authorities responsible regarding facts relating to the collective interest of the national Unions;
5) decide the membership fees and their times of payment, establish and modify financial allocations, control, approve or reject the accounts and balances;
6) express opinions and wishes regarding oenological study programmes, and draw up resolutions regarding wine-growing and wine-producing issues and regulations;
7) promote research and scientific and technical exchanges at an international level;
8) discuss and deliberate all matters relating to its authority;
9) nominate its own representatives upon international governing bodies and committees.

LOSS OF STANDING OF A MEMBER
NATIONAL UNION

Art. 15 - A national Union may lose its standing as member of the U.I.Œ:
1) at its own request or by resignation;
2) for not fulfilling the payment requirements of its membership fees (delay of one year);
3) for not respecting the Articles of Association and Internal Regulations;
4) for not conforming to the Articles of Association and Internal Regulations;
5) for exclusion ratified by the General Assembly.
A national Union that has resigned or been excluded may not claim compensation or restitution of its membership fees.

 

THE UNION'S FINANCIAL RESOURCES

Art. 16 - The financial resources of the Union are made up of the membership fees paid by the national Unions, any existing subsidies or bequests, financial products and incomes from investments or civil activities to which it has been authorised.
The national Unions pay the fees decided by the General Assembly in proportion to the number of members in their country at the times stipulated by the Internal Regulations.
The business year runs from 1st January to 31st December of each year. At the end of each business year, the treasurer draws up the balance sheet which, once approved by the auditors, must be approved by the General Assembly of the U.I.Œ.

DISSOLUTION

Art. 17 - Dissolution may be decided by the General Assembly with the unanimous agreement of the chief delegations present and in possession of voting entitlements, or by the carrying out of a sentence. A liquidator will be nominated to realize the value of the Union's assets, pay outstanding debts and leave any remaining sum as a bequest to a non-profit making organization decided by the authority that declared the dissolution.

Unanimously approved by the General Assembly of the U.I.Πat the meeting of August 2008 the 31st held in Deidesheim (Germany).