Internal regulations

Updated on the 11/04/2023

Before joining the Phyto-info non-profit organization, please read and accept our internal regulations.

1. Reminder of our objective

Phyto-info is a non-profit organization whose objective is to share knowledge between science and tradition on the benefits and risks of plants.

2. Difference between Herbal Medicine and Phyto-info

Herbal medicine is not a new discipline.

The authors of a study published in 2012 in the scientific journal Naturwissenschaften put forward the hypothesis, based on the presence of chemical compounds trapped in the dental tartar of skeletons more than 40,000 years old, that Neanderthals would have used plants for their therapeutic virtues.

More recently, the WHO, the world health organization, invites Member States to take effective measures to ensure the preservation of medicinal plants and promote the continuity of their use.

According to the ANSM (French national agency for medicines and health products safety), medicinal plants are:

vegetable drugs within the meaning of the European Pharmacopoeia, at least some of which have medicinal properties. Plants with medicinal properties may also have food or condiment uses, or even be used in the preparation of hygienic drinks. For these various uses, it is either the same parts of plants, or different parts.

Herbal medicine, or phytotherapy, from the Greek “phyton” meaning plant and “therapeia” meaning therapy, aims to cure, relieve or prevent disease.

While phytotherapy is a support of the person based on the use of plants, Phyto-info (from the Greek “phyton” meaning plant and the abbreviation “info” meaning information) shares knowledge between tradition and science on plants recognized as having medicinal properties.

Phyto-info has a strictly educational purpose.

Phyto-info does not in any way help diagnose pathologies and set up treatment.

Since some plants may cause side effects and may interfere with drug treatments, it is strongly recommended to consult a doctor or health professional before using medicinal plants. Self-medication, by delaying a diagnosis and delaying the implementation of a treatment, can have very serious health consequences.

3. Approval of new active members

Any new active member must be sponsored and introduced by an active member of the non-profit organization prior to approval.

It is approved unanimously by the Board of Directors, which decides, at each of its meetings, on the applications for admission submitted. In case of refusal, the decision does not have to be motivated.

Persons wishing to join must justify their request for membership as active members to this email address: contact(@)phyto-info(.)com

4. Members and subscription

Active members are those who are members of the board of directors and those whose request is unanimously accepted by the board of directors. Active members undertake to provide a certain number of hours of volunteer work each year and to pay a subscription of 30 euros.

Supporting members are those who support the actions of the non-profit organization and who have undertaken to pay an annual subscription of 15 euros.

The annual subscription is due as soon as the new members are approved.

Any subscription paid is definitively acquired by the non-profit organization.

5. Resignation — Exclusion — Death of a member

The resignation must be sent to the chairman of the board by registered letter. It does not have to be motivated by the resigning member.

As indicated in the statutes, the expulsion of a member may be pronounced by the board for serious reasons. In particular, the following are considered to be serious reasons:

non-participation in the activities of the non-profit organization;
a criminal conviction for a crime and misdemeanor;
any action likely to harm, directly or indirectly, the activities of the non-profit organization or its reputation.

In any event, the person concerned must be in a position to present his defence, prior to the exclusion decision.

The exclusion decision is adopted by the Council acting by a majority of the members present.

In the event of the death of a member, the heirs or legatees cannot claim to remain in the non-profit organization in any way.

The subscription paid to the non-profit organization is definitively acquired, even in the event of the resignation, exclusion, or death of a member during the year.

6. General meetings — voting procedures

Votes from active members present

Members present voted by show of hands. However, a secret ballot may be requested by the council.

Proxy votes

As indicated in the statutes, if a member of the non-profit organization cannot personally attend a meeting, he may be represented by another active member.

7. Reimbursement benefits

Only elected members of the Bureau may claim reimbursement of expenses incurred in the course of their functions and upon justification.

8. Work Commission

Working committees may be set up by decision of the board of directors.

9. Amendment to the internal regulations

These internal regulations may be amended by the board of directors or by the ordinary general meeting by a majority of the votes of the active members present or represented; in the event of a tie, the president has the casting vote.