BY-LAWS

Article I

Name

The name of this organization shall be The Association of Food and Drug Officials of the Southern States.   The Association shall include the states of Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia.

 

Article II

Purpose

The object of this organization is:

  1. To promote the enactment ans enforcement of uniform laws for the protection of public health and the prevention of fraud and deception in the production, manufacture, distribution, and sale of foods, drugs, cosmetics, devices, and other consumer products.

  2. To encourage the adoption of uniform administrative procedures and to promote cooperation among officials charged with enforcement  of consumer protection laws at all levels of government.

  3. To support similar objectives advanced by the Association of Food and Drug Officials.

 

Article III

Membership

 

Section 1:
There shall be three classes of membership in the Association:  Regular Members, Associate Members, and Life Members.

Section 2:
The qualifications for each class of membership shall be:

  • Regular Members
    Individuals eligible for regular membership shall be those who are heads of departments or units in federal, state, county, municipal or other levels of government charged with enforcement of food, drug, cosmetic, device, or product safety laws, ordinances, or regulations in the states of Alabama, Florida,  Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia, and the persons under their supervision and direction actively engaged in such enforcement.

  • Life Members 
    Individuals     eligible to hold life membership shall have been Regular Members who are nominated by the Executive Committee and approved by the Association to this class of membership in recognition of their substantial contributions to the achievement of the objectives of the Association.

  • Associate Members
    Individuals eligible to hold associate membership  shall be those parsons affiliated with industry, academia, organizations or professions maintaining an interest in the objectives of the Association.

Section 3:
Membership Rights and Privileges.  Individual classes of membership shall be entitled to rights and privileges within the Association as follows:

  • Regular Members
    Regular Members shall be entitled to the full rights and privileges of the Association, including the right to hold office, to be a member of committees, and to vote on issues to come before the Association.  Regular Members shall be entitled to receive routine mailings of the Association.

  • Life Members
    Life Members shall have all the rights and privileges of a Regular Member unless said Life Member becomes associated with a regulated industry, causing their rights and privileges to be limited to those of an Associate Member.

  • Associate Members
    Associate Members shall be entitled to receive routine mailings of the Association and may serve as advisor to committees without vote.  Associate Members shall not be entitled to hold office or to vote on issues to come before the Association. 

 

Article IV

Officers and Executive Committee

Section 1:
The officers of the Association shall consist of a President, a Vice President and Secretary-Treasurer.  The President and Vice President shall be elected for a term of one year.  The Secretary-Treasurer shall be elected for a term of three years.  Officers shall be elected at the annual meeting from a list of the Regular Members of the Association.  If a vacancy occurs when the Association is not in session, the President , upon recommendation of the Executive Committee, shall  appoint a successor to hold office until the next annual meeting.

Section 2:
The duties of the officers of this Association shall be as follows:

  • President
    The President shall preside at all meetings and shall appoint such committees as may be authorized or required, whose appointment or election is not otherwise provided.  The President shall be Chairperson of the Executive Committee.

  • Vice President
    The Vice President shall act in the capacity of the President at the President's bidding or in case of the absence of the President.  He shall be responsible for fulfilling duties delegated to him by the President and shall fill the un-expired term of the Office of the President if the later office shall become vacant.  Unless otherwise appointed by the President, the 
    Vice President shall serve as Chairperson of the Program Committee.

  • Secretary-Treasurer
    The Secretary-Treasurer shall keep a list of all members of the Association, collect all monies due the Association, giving a receipt therefore, and record the amount of each payment.  The Secretary-Treasurer shall send bills to all members of the Association who are in arrears for dues and conduct such part of the correspondence of the Association as is usually conducted by such officer of similar organizations.  The Secretary-Treasurer shall record the minutes of each meeting of the Association and keep them filed securely.  The Secretary-Treasurer shall be bonded as directed by the Executive Committee, shall have care of the funds of the Association and all funds shall be disbursed with the approval of the President.  The Secretary-Treasurer shall furnish to the Association, at each annual meeting and at such times as called on by the Executive Committee, a financial statement of all receipts and disbursements since the last annual meeting; and this statement, together with all books, vouchers, and all necessary documents, shall be available for audit.

Section 3:
The Executive Committee shall consist of the President, Vice President, Secretary-Treasurer, two elected Regular Members, the Director of the Office of Federal-State Relations of  the U S. Food and Drug Administration as an ex-officio member, the Director of the Office of Federal-State Relations of the Consumer Safety Commission as an ex-officio member, and the Chairperson of the Advisory Committee as an ex-officio member.  One Regular Member of the Association shall be elected to the Executive Committee at each annual meeting to serve as a junior and senior Executive Committee member for two years, after which the member becomes eligible for succession to the offices of Vice President and President.  The affiliate Director from AFDOSS elected for a four year term to represent the Association on the AFDO Board of Directors shall be a member of the Executive Committee during his/her tenure of office.

 

Article V

Committees

Section 1:
The President with concurrence of the Executive Committee shall annually appoint all standing committees as may be established by the Executive Committee and such other committees as deemed necessary and desirable for the Association.

Section 2:
The Program Committee shall consist of the Executive Committee and such other members as required.

Section 3:
The Technical Committee shall carry out the policies of the Association regarding technical matters.

Section 4:
The Nominating Committee shall consist of three Regular Members.

Section 5:
The Credentials Committee shall consist of the President, the Secretary-Treasurer, and a third member appointed by the President.  It shall be the duty of the Credentials Committee to pass on the eligibility of members of the Association for voting.

Section 6:
The Advisory Committee shall consist of Regular Association Members of federal agencies.  Members of the Committee may be selected from, but not limited to, Regions III, IV, and VI of the Federal Food and Drug Administration,  the U. S.  Department of Agriculture, the Environmental Protection Agency,  the Consumer Product Safety Commission, and the National Marine Fisheries Service.  The duties of the Advisory Committee shall be:

  • To identify areas of better communication between state and federal regulatory agencies

  • To project and plan specific areas of cooperation

  • To advise AFDOSS Executive Committee of areas in need of attention, and 

  • To alert AFDOSS membership of new areas developing within the federal agencies which will effect AFDOSS

Section 7:
The Eugene H. Holeman Award Committee shall consist of five members as follows:  The most recent recipient as Chairman, the President of the Association, and the three immediate past living recipients.  If three members as described are not available, the President may appoint such members as necessary to fill all five positions.

To be eligible for the Eugene H. Holeman Award, a nominee must have demonstrated that he/she has served the Association and made a valuable contribution to food, drug, and cosmetic or consumer product safety, and administration and enforcement.  A previous recipient of the award shall not be eligible for re-nomination.

Nominations shall be submitted to the Committee Chairman not later than January 1 of each year.  Five copies of the nomination shall be submitted and shall include a short biographical sketch of the nominee, together with a report on his contribution, publications, and achievements in the field of food, drug, cosmetic or consumer product safety administration and enforcement.

The Committee shall consider each report of nomination as received and committee members shall have the right to independently canvass the field in order that no one worthy of consideration be overlooked.

A recommendation shall be made by the Committee before March 1.  An award need not be granted each year.

 

Article VI

Voting

In matters pertaining to any change of the Constitution or By-Laws or other matters, each Regular member in good standing shall be entitled to one vote.

 

Article VII

Meetings

The Association shall meet at least once annually, except that the President may call a special meeting upon request of a majority of the states or the Executive Committee.  The Executive Committee shall decide the dates of regular and special meetings.

 

Article VIII

Dues and Registration Fees

Section 1:
Membership dues for all classes of membership shall be established by the Executive Committee, subject to approval by a majority of the Regular Members registered and present at any annual or special meeting.  Dues may be different for different classes of membership.

Section 2:
The membership year shall coincide with the calendar year and dues are payable on January 1 of each year.

Section 3:
A registration fee shall be charged, the amount to be decided upon by the Executive Committee before the date of each meeting and the membership shall be notified of same prior to the annual meeting.

 

Article IX

Property

The Association may accept contributions and endowments.  It may purchase, own, manage, and dispose of property.  The executive Committee shall act as trustee for all property of the Association.

 

Article X

By-Laws

The Association may adopt By-Laws which are not in conflict with the Constitution.  By-Laws may be adopted or amended only upon a two-thirds vote of the Regular Members present at the annual meeting, taken in accordance with Article VI, provided, however;

  • that notice of the proposed amendment(s) is announced to the membership at least thirty (30) days in advance of the meeting at which it is to be considered, and

  • the amendments have been read at two separate sessions of the meeting at which they are considered prior to the vote.

 

Article XI

Amendments to the Constitution

The Constitution of the Association can be amended by the Executive Committee subject to approval by two-thirds vote of the Regular membership present at a business meeting at the next annual meeting, taken in accordance with Article VI, provided, however;

  • that notice of the proposed amendment(s) is announced to the membership at least thirty (30) days in advance of the meeting at which it is to be considered, and


  • that the amendments have been read at two separate sessions of the meeting at which they are to be considered prior to the vote.

 

Article XII

Scope of Activities

When the financial structure of the Association permits employment of business managers, scientists, or other workers, such appointments may be made by the Executive Committee subject to approval by a majority vote of Regular Members registered and present at any annual or special meeting. 

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Last Update:  May 2, 2002