Name
The society shall be known as the "European Society for Biomaterials".

Registered Office
The Society is registered as an association at the Court of Illkirch-Graffenstaden, Strasbourg, under the provisions of Articles 21-79 of the local Civil Code as enacted by French Law introducing the Civil Code, 1st June.

Duration
The Society is established for an unlimited period of time.

Objectives
The Society undertakes to abstain from all political activity.

The Society is non-profit making and its objectives are:-

To encourage, foster, promote and develop research, progress and information concerning the science of biomaterials, as well as to promote, initiate, sustain and bring to a satisfactory conclusion research with others and programs of development and information in this particular field.

To collaborate with other associations and bodies whose efforts are directed at the same objectives and whose interests are allied with or are similar to those of the Society itself.

To promote the propagation of scientific information through publications and meetings.

To co-operate with other scientific organizations, governmental and private bodies, both national and international, in order to establish specifications and standards for biomaterials in general.

To encourage progress in the field of biomaterials in all its aspects, including research, teaching and clinical applications, as well as to foster any other activity pertinent thereto.

Membership
The Society comprises:

Any person, irrespective of nationality, who has an interest in biomaterials and is accepted for membership by the Council.

Definition: here-in-after the term "members" in these Statutes and in the Byelaws shall be construed to mean the members of the Society duly elected to membership in accordance with the Statutes and Byelaws who are entitled to vote.

Termination of Membership
The Council of the Society is empowered to suspend, expel or accept the resignation of members at its discretion.

Council
The affairs of the Society shall be managed in accordance with these Statutes and with the Byelaws by a Council elected by the members. The Council shall comprise at least seven members and from amongst themselves shall appoint a President, Secretary and Treasurer and such other officers and committees as may be deemed necessary. The Council members shall hold office for a term of four years and are eligible for re-election.

Assets
The assets of the Society constitute:

-the membership dues
-public or private grants of money and revenue from property owned by the Society.

General Meetings
A General Meeting of members shall be held at least once every two years at a time and place decided by the Council. Notification of a General Meeting, together with the Agenda as set by the Council, shall be sent to each member not less than thirty days prior to the date of the meeting. Minutes of the proceedings are kept in one or more books provided for that purpose, authenticated by the signature of the President and Secretary.

Changes to the Statutes
Changes to the Statutes can only be made at a properly constituted General Meeting of the Society at which at least 10 % of the total members are present.

A resolution to change the Statutes must be proposed by the Council or by 10 % of the total members or at least 25 members, whichever is the greater. The resolution is passed if it gains the vote of at least of members present at the General Meeting. If a quorum is not obtained at the General Meeting, a second meeting can be convened by the President, at the earliest, one day later. A resolution to change the Statutes may then be passed by a vote with a normal majority sufficient to pass any resolution.

Dissolution
The Society may be dissolved by the action of 10 % of the total members or at least 25 members, whichever is the greater. The resolution to dissolve the Society is passed if it gains, in a mail ballot, the vote of at least of members in good standing. If a quorum is not obtained, a properly constituted General Meeting can be specially convened by the President, this second meeting being, at the earliest, one month later. A resolution to change the Statutes may then be passed by a vote with a normal majority sufficient to pass any resolution.

Upon dissolution the assets of the Society shall be distributed to one or more Societies having similar objectives.

Notifications of Changes
The President shall notify any changes in the Statutes; the names of elected officers of the Society; change in address of the registered office; dissolution of the Society to the Court of Illkirch-Graffenstaden. 

Article I
Membership
Section 1. Ordinary members
Ordinary members are persons, irrespective of their nationality, who have an interest in the field of Biomaterials and are accepted for membership by the Council.
Normally new members may be accepted by the Membership Secretary acting under the general terms and conditions laid down from time to time by Council. In cases where there is doubt, the President will be consulted and he or she may recommend acceptance or refer the application to the next meeting of the Council. The names and addresses of all new members shall be reported to the Treasurer as soon as possible and to the Council at their next meeting.
Ordinary members are entitled to vote by mail ballot and at General Assemblies of the Society and to be elected to the Council.

Section 2. Honorary members
Honorary membership can be given to any person who has given the Society particularly meritorious services or who has made a significant contribution to research in the field of biomaterials. Honorary members are elected in accordance with the resolutions of members passed during the General Assemblies of the Society.
Honorary members are entitled to vote by mail ballot and at General Assemblies of the Society and to be elected to the Council.

Section 3. Senior members
An ordinary member who has retired from active professional life may become a Senior Member.
Senior members are entitled to vote by mail ballot and at General Assemblies of the Society and to be elected to the Council.

Section 4. Corporate members
Any institution or organization whose activities are in the field of biomaterials can apply for rnembership of the ESB to the Council. Those organizations accepted as corporate members must nominate a representative.
The representatives are entitled to vote by mail ballot and at General Assemblies of the Society and may be elected to the Council.

Section 5. Corresponding members
Corresponding membership can be given to any person who has given the Society particularly meritorious services or who has made a significant contribution to research in the field of biomaterials in countries outside Europe.
Corresponding members are not entitled to vote, either by mail ballot or at General Assemblies of the Society and may not be elected to the Council.

Section 6. Laboratory members
Laboratory membership can be given, upon request, to any laboratory or research unit lead by an Ordinary Member of the Society. The laboratory is entitled to receive the official journal of the Society. Up to five additional people per laboratory who work in the laboratory, to be named each year on the membership application / renewal form are entitled to receive the newsletter and to have a concessionary reduction in registration fee for the Society meetings.
The Laboratory Members are entitled to vote either by mail ballot or at General Assemblies of the Society. Laboratory Members may be elected to the Council unless they are students.

Section 7. Junior members
Junior membership can be given to any graduate student in the field of biomaterials. Junior members are entitled to a special membership fee, to receive the newsletter and to have a reduced registration fee for the Society meetings. On applying for or renewing Junior Membership a letter should be submitted from either the Junior Memberʼs Supervisor or Head of Department stating that the Junior Member is currently a graduate student.
Junior members are entitled to vote either by mail ballot or at General Assemblies of the Society but may not to be elected to the Council.

Section 8. Affiliate Societies
Any scientific society whose activities, in the opinion of the Council, are in conformity with the objectives of the European Society for Biomaterials, can be considered for affiliation to the ESB, if:
-the society provides evidence of having the same objectives as given in the art. IV of ESB statutes on a regional or national basis in Europe;
-the society is legally controlled and provides Statutes and Bylaws.
In the event that a society is accepted, by the ESB council, as an affiliated society there shall be no cost to either the ESB or the affiliating society. The President of ESB may convene a Board of Presidents in order to discuss and decide on mutual interests.
The members of the affiliated society will receive, through their society ESB News. ESB News may be used by the affiliated society for communication to theirmembers in agreement with the ESB Editorial Board. An affiliated society can negotiate with the publishers for a reduced subscription to Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Medicine for their members.
Members of an affiliated society generally do not receive reduced fees for ESB conference and meetings.
The members of an affiliated society are not entitled to vote either by mail ballot or at General Assemblies of the Society and not to be elected to the Council, unless they also have appropriate membership of ESB.

Art . II
Termination and reinstatement of membership
Section 1. Unworthiness
The Council can suspend or expel a member provided at least two-thirds of the Council members present at each officially convened meeting have requested such action to be taken and have outlined their reasons for the expulsion.

Section 2. Default
The Treasurer shall notify the Council of any member who fails to pay his or her dues by January 1st of the year. The Treasurer shall send a request for membership renewal to each member during the first week of November of the preceding year, and shall issue one reminder in early January giving notice that membership may be terminated unless payment is received by January 31st. This reminder will be sent to the last known address of the member as notified to the Secretary. The Council will consider the status of each member who fails to pay his or her dues at their first meeting after January 31st each year, and will normally revoke the membership of those members who fail to pay without good cause.

Section 3. Resignation
Any member can present his or her resignation by registered letter sent at least 60 days before the date on which the resignation is to become effective. The resigning member should pay any outstanding dues.

Section 4. Reinstatement
At the request in writing of another member and with a vote in favour on the parl of the majority of those present at any officially convened Council Meeting, the Council can reinstate a former member under the conditions it deems appropriate.

Article III<

Section 1. Special Assemblies
Special General Assemblies of members can be called by the Council, whenever it is felt necessary. A Special General Assembly must be called at the written request of at least 30 percent of the members registered at the time of the request.

Section 2. General and Special General Meeting Rules
Meetings will be presided over by the President of the ESB or by some other person designated by the Council with a Secretary appointed by the Chairman, assisting.
Any member with the right to vote can attend the meetings and can represent not more than two additional members, provided that each represented member has given a proxy in writing which is to be notified to the Chairman at the start of the meeting.
In order that a meeting be valid it is necessary for at least 10 percent of the total members to be present or represented by proxy. If a quorum is not obtained at a first meeting, a second can be called by the President, at the earliest, one day later. The second meeting does not require a quorum of members.
Resolutions passed at meetings are binding on all members. In the event of equal numbers of votes the voting will be repeated. If the second vote again results in a tie the Chairman shall have the casting vote.

Section 3. Any other business
Resolutions from Council excepted, matters for discussion under any other business which require a decision by the General Assembly or Special General Assembly shall be notified to the Secretary in writing not later than 15 days prior to the said meeting.

Section 4. Minutes of the Assemblies
Minutes of the resolutions passed at Assemblies must be drawn up and be signed by the Chairman and the Secretary and communicated to all members. The official language of the Meetings will be English.

Section 5. Mail ballot
Every two years, at least 8 months before the General Assembly, members must be informed of the Council members who are retiring or resigning. At least 6 months before the General Meeting the Secretary of the Society must receive, by the Council and/or by any member, entitled to vote, nominations together with a short Curriculum Vitae of the candidates. Each candidate must expressly accept the nomination by undersigning the Curriculum Vitae. The proposed candidates must be eligible members in good standing.
The Secretary will prepare a ballot form which is specially printed to protect confidentiality and with a separate, detachable, indication of membership code number.
The Secretary will send the form together with the C.V.s to all members in good standing, at least 5 months before the General Meeting.
The members must vote, close the form and mail it back to the Secretary at least 4 months before the General Assembly. The Secretary will check the membership number, remove and register the detachable label, collect and mail all the forms to the Ballot Officer at least 2 months before the General Meeting.
The Ballot Officer will open the forms, register the votes, and report to the ESB ExecutiveCommittee.
ln the case of a tie for any of the places for Council membership, the tie should be resolved by a secret ballot at the General Assembly where a simple majority will be sufficient for election.

Article IV
Council
Section 1. Membership
Every member of the Council must be a citizen of and a permanent resident in a European country.
The Past President of the Council shall be an ex-officio member of the Council for the term of Council immediately following his or her Presidency. At least seven members shall be elected to serve on the Council by General Assemblies, Special General Assemblies or mail ballot.
The term of office of each elected member of Council will normally be four years. Elections to the Council shall be so arranged that normally not all elected members retire at the same time. Elections to Council will normally be held once every two years at which time either three or four members shall be elected to Council.

Section 2. Officers
The first business of the first meeting of a new Council shall be to elect from amongst themselves the new President of the Society, who shall then also be Chairman of the Council. Normally the immediate Past President of the Society, or if he or she is not available, the oldest Council member by age, shall be the Chairman for the purposes of this business alone.The Council shall then elect a Vice-President, a Secretary and a Treasurer. All elections shall be carried out by means of a vote amongst Council members and a simple majority is sufficient for election. If there is a tie, the vote will be repeated. If there continues to be a tie, the Council member who is acting as Chairman of the meeting at the time of the vote, shall have a casting vote. The President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer are the officers of the Society and constitute the Executive Committee. The Executive Committee acts in accordance with the duties of the officers as well as to those entrusted, from time to time, by the Council.

Section 3. Vacancy
Any vacancy in any office of the Council due to death, resignation, removal, disqualification or otherwise can be filled by the Council with candidates from the Council for the period until the next programmed election.

Section 4. Committees
Council may create, from time to time, and for a specified or unlimited period such Committees as are necessary to run the Society's affairs to the best advantage of the members. Normally, there will be at least one member of Council on each Committee and he or she will be responsible for reporting the activities of the Committee to the Council.

Section 5. Board of Presidents
The Council can install a Board constituted by the Presidents of all the affiliated Societies, the President, the Vice President and the Secretary of the ESB. The meeting of the Board of Presidents must be called by the Council at least every two years, before the General Assembly of the Society. The President of the ESB chairs the meeting and reports the minutes to the Council and to the members at the General Assembly.
The board of Presidents is a consulting body with the aims of enhancing the harmonisation of education, training and research in the field of biomaterials in all the European countries and of improving the mutual relationships between the different constituting societies.

Article V
President
The President in general supervises all the business and affairs of the Society. He or she presides over all Council and Board of Presidents meetings and is legally authorized to sign any document that the Council has approved, even on general lines and generally attends to all the tasks entrusted to the Office of President, or assigned thereto from time to time by the Council. Should the President be absent or be prevented from attending to the foregoing, the Vice President will perform the duties of President.
The Vice President must carry out all the duties given to him or her from time to time by the President, the Executive Committee, the Council, or as a result of resolutions passed at General Assemblies. The signature on documents of the Vice President is indicative that the President is absent or has been prevented from being in attendance.

Article VI
Treasurer
The Treasurer has in his or her charge and custody, all the funds of the Society, receives monies, issue receipts for monies received, banks monies in the name of the Society and in general attends to all duties pertinent to the Office of Treasurer, as well as to those entrusted to him or her from time to time by the President, the Executive Committee, the Council or as a result of resolutions passed at General Assemblies. The Treasurer keeps a register of the members of the Society, thus acting as Membership Secretary.

Art . VII
Secretary
The Secretary keeps the Minutes of the Council and General Assemblies in one or more books provided for this purpose, has custody of the documents of the Society, is responsible, for the mail ballot procedures and, in general, attends to all the duties pertinent to the office of Secretary, as well as those entrusted to him or her from time to time by the President, the Executive Committee, the Council or as a result of resolutions passed at General Assemblies.

Art . VIII
Auditors
The Auditors, three in number and appointed during the course of General Assemblies, hold office for four years. Their task is to check the books and balance sheets and to prepare a statement of the Society's finances for presentation biennially to the General Assembly of the Society. The Auditors appoint, from their own midst, a Chairman of the Board of Auditors.

Art . IX
Ballot Officer
The Ballot officer is appointed, when needed, by the President or by the Council at least 5 months before the General Assembly. He or she must be an ordinary or senior member, not member of Council and not a candidate for the election.
He or she must expressly accept the duties and responsibilities towards the Council and the member of the Society.
The ballot officer will open the forms, register the votes, prepare the list of elected members and report to the General Assembly.

Art . X
Membership Fees
Members shall be required to pay annual membership fees according to the different categories of membership. The fees will be established by the General Assembly and shall normally be paid before January 1st of the year in question. The financial year shall run from January 1st to December 31st. Honorary, Senior and Corresponding members are exempt from payments of membership fees, except that they may elect to pay that portion of the membership fee which covers the supply of the Society journal if they wish to receive the journal.
New members shall be required to pay membership fees for the current year in full, except when their membership is accepted during the last quarter of the year, in which case it will cover membership for the remainder of the year and the next year.