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Statutes of the International Graphic Fairtrade Association

1. Name, Location, and Purpose

§ 1 The International Graphic Fairtrade Association (IGFA) is a non-profit association as per Art. 60ff of the Swiss Civil Code.

§ 2 The domicile and the jurisdiction are in 8400 Winterthur, Switzerland. Both the domicile and the jurisdiction can be changed by decision of the General Assembly.

§ 3 The purpose of IGFA is to champion the needs and business growth of re-marketed graphic equipment dealers, in order that they may serve the global printing community to the best of their ability, providing the finest possible service. IGFA fulfils this by:

  1. Maintaining a list of members vouched for by existing members of IGFA.
  2. Promoting IGFA’s principles to the global printing community to establish recognition of its members as experts and diligent professionals in trading graphic arts equipment.
  3. Attracting new members whose practices and principles are acknowledged by their peers as consistent with those of IGFA.
  4. Providing a platform for members to demonstrate their trading principles, leveraging IGFA as a mark of trust and integrity that assures customers they are in professional hands.
  5. Warning its members against dubious offers and/or competitors.
  6. Organizing professional and social events, with a focus on opportunities around trade shows, to power networking, strengthen relationships among members, and foster collaboration.
  7. Advocating for the benefits of re-marketed graphic machinery, highlighting its economic and environmental advantages to the global printing community and establishing IGFA as the leading voice in championing used printing equipment.
  8. Managing the club treasury.

2. Association and Fiscal Year

§ 4 The Association year begins with one Annual General Meeting and concludes at the next. The Fiscal Year runs from January 1 to December 31.

3. Membership

§ 5 Membership in IGFA is open to individuals and legal entities engaged in purchasing and selling goods for the graphic arts industry.

§ 6 To qualify for membership to IGFA, a candidate must be endorsed by at least one existing member.

§ 7 Membership ends:

  1. By resignation as per the end of the current Association year.
  2. By expulsion from IGFA by decision of the General Assembly.
  3. By removal from the membership list due to non-payment of the annual contribution.
  4. By discontinuation of business.
  5. By death.

§ 8 Members who are to be expelled from IGFA must be notified in writing at least 30 days prior to the next General Meeting. The notification must clearly outline the reasons for expulsion and provide an opportunity to appeal.
Members may appeal this decision by submitting a written statement to the President no later than 10 days before the General Meeting. During the General Meeting, the appeal will be read to the General Assembly by the President, and the expelled member will have the opportunity to present their case briefly. A vote will then be held by the General Assembly to determine the outcome of the appeal.
The decision of the General Assembly will be final and binding, with no further recourse.

§ 9 The end of the membership automatically represents the end of all liabilities, obligations and/or legal claims towards IGFA.

§ 10 For all obligations of IGFA, the association’s assets are liable only. The members are liable only to the amount of their current annual fee.

4. Organs of the Association

§ 11 The organs of the Association are:

  1. The General Assembly – serves as the supreme decision-making body.
  2. The Executive Board – consists of 3 (three) to 5 (five) members.
  3. The Control Authority – supervises and reviews the minutes and the accounts.
  4. The Members.

5. General Assembly

§ 12
Purpose and Authority
The General Assembly serves as the supreme decision-making body of IGFA, overseeing key governance and strategic decisions.

Meetings

  • The General Assembly is held once a year, no later than June 30th.
  • Extraordinary General Meetings (EGM) can be convened if deemed necessary by the Executive Board or at the request of at least five authorized and registered members.
  • Invitations must be sent to members no less than 30 days before the meeting date, including the agenda and relevant documents.

Responsibilities

  • Approving the minutes of the previous meeting.
  • Receiving and accepting reports, including:
    • The President’s annual report.
    • The Treasurer’s financial report and proposed budget.
  • Deciding on the expulsion of members.
  • Determining yearly membership contributions.
  • Deciding on proposals submitted by members.
  • Voting on modifications to the statutes.

Decision-Making

  • Votes and elections are conducted openly unless a secret ballot is requested by the majority.
  • Decisions are made by a simple majority of the votes cast.
  • Voting Independence: The President will abstain from voting to maintain independence, given their concurrent role as Managing Director of pressXchange.com.
  • Tie-Breaking Rule: In the event of a tie, and where there is an even number of voting members, the vote of the most recently joined member will not be counted. This rule applies exclusively in the case of a tie.
  • Remote Voting: Members may participate and vote during an online meeting. Alternatively, votes can be submitted via email up to 3 days after the meeting.
  • Quorum: A quorum is required for the meeting to proceed, defined as 25% of registered members present or participating remotely.

Transparency and Documentation

  • Meeting minutes must be recorded and made available to all members via email or the IGFA website within 30 days after the meeting.

6. The Executive Board

§ 13 The Executive Board of the Association consists of 3 (three) to 5 (five) members:

  1. The President presides over General Meetings, oversees the Association’s activities, and leads PR and marketing efforts.
  2. The Secretary takes the minutes of the General Meetings and the Meetings of the Executive Board and handles the correspondence of the Association.
  3. The Treasurer manages the cash and the assets of the Association. He presents the annual budget to the General Assembly.
  4. The Assessor is a Deputy of the other members of the Executive Board. He does special assignments at the behest and on behalf of the Executive Board.

7. The Control Authority

§ 14 The Control Authority consists of 2 (two) Members of IGFA. It supervises and reviews the minutes and the accounts of the Association and reports to the General Assembly.

8. Members

§ 15 The members of the IGFA are recognized for:

  1. Demonstrating integrity and professionalism in their dealings with suppliers, customers, and service providers.
  2. Conducting their operations ethically.
  3. Sharing relevant information with fellow members about opportunities, challenges, and events that could impact the graphic arts industry.
  4. Respecting other members and fostering a collaborative environment, despite competition.
  5. Supporting fellow members in navigating business challenges or operational needs.
  6. Embracing shared opportunities and responsibilities in joint activities to promote mutual success.

9. The Statutes

§ 16 Modifications of the Statutes can be decided by the General Assembly only.
By joining IGFA, each Member commits to adhering to these Statutes and upholding their values.

10. Dissolution of the Association

§ 17 The dissolution of IGFA is not possible if there are 10 (ten) or more Members. When this condition is not fulfilled anymore, the General Assembly will decide on the dissolution and allocate the remaining assets in accordance with the Association’s principles.

11. Final Provision

These Statutes come into force with the acceptance thereof by the General Assembly at the foundation meeting held in Düsseldorf/Germany on May 6th, 2012.
Revised and adopted on 21 January 2025.
These statutes replace all prior versions.