CONSTITUTION:

         1. The name of the Association is "The World Hereford Council".

         2. The object for which the Council is established is:
"To preserve, and improve globally, the inherited constitution, integrity and docility of the breed of cattle known as Herefords which has enabled it to thrive in extreme climatic and feeding conditions throughout its history."

  MEMBERSHIP:
 
       3. Eligibility for Membership: 
For an Association or Society to be considered for membership of the World Hereford Council, that Association or Society must be;
 
(a) An Association or Society being the Registration Authority of a country recognized as a Registration Authority by the World Hereford Council; or
(b) An Association or Society in any country which, although not the Registration Authority, is the sole representative of Hereford cattle in that country; or
(c) An Association or Society in a country whose records are maintained by an Association or Society in another country.
(d) In the case of new countries, for a society to be considered for membership of the World Hereford Council, that society must have at least 75% of the registered Hereford cattle in that country recorded in their Society.
(e) In the case of countries that are already members of the World Hereford Council, the incumbent (the member society) would continue with its membership unless a new Society in that same country can prove they have both more than 50% of registered cattle and breeders. (ie) The new Society becomes larger than the incumbent)
 
           Note:
An Association or Society representing a minority or special interest of Hereford Breeders will not normally be considered for membership.
The exception being when a country has separate Polled and Horned Hereford Associations or Societies.
  
        4. Method of application:
 
(a) Application for the recognition of a Hereford Association or Society, to the World Hereford Council must be accompanied by a signed and sealed statement by a duly authorized member of the Association or Society showing the origin of the cattle registered in the records, the date on which the Register or Herd Book was closed to unrecorded stock and clear undertaking to keep the Register or Herd Book closed in the future. This statement should be accompanied by a certified copy of the Rules together with the registration procedures.
(b) Where the Association or Society does not own or manage the existing Hereford records in that country, a statement referring to the records must be duly authorized by the recording authority.
(c) The application must be proposed and seconded by existing members and elected by a three-quarters vote.
(d) When a member country makes a fundamental change to their constitution then they must submit those changes to the Secretary General for approval.
 
        5. Subscriptions:
 
Subscriptions shall be paid annually in advance on January 1st to the Secretary General, at the World Hereford Council headquarters, either c/- United Kingdom Herefords or American Hereford Association, depending on which is the Secretary General’s preference.
The subscription rate shall be in accordance with that determined periodically by the World Hereford Council. Payments shall be made in the currency of the World Hereford Council’s bank account..
Subscriptions shall be payable for the year in which any member country is elected and any member in arrears on the 30th June in the year following will not have voting rights or any other support and privileges until the arrears have been cleared. Once a member has been in arrears for 2 years, their membership shall cease, should they wish to re-join in the future they will have to re-apply to the Council, unless all arrears are paid.
Unpaid subscriptions shall be reported by the Secretary General to the Council who shall act as they think fit.
 
        6. Accounts:
 
The accounts of the World Hereford Council shall be kept at the Headquarters and shall be administered by the Secretary General. The financial year will be from January 1st to December 31st. The accounts will be audited prior to each World Hereford Conference and a Statement of Accounts presented at each Conference. At each World Hereford Conference, an Auditor shall also be appointed for the ensuing period until the next World Hereford Conference.
 
      7. Payments:
 
The funds of the World Hereford Council shall be utilized for expenditure incurred by the Secretary General in conducting affairs of the Council and in payment of any other accounts at the discretion of the Council. The expenses of the Secretary General for attending Conferences shall be a direct charge on the funds, with the exception that the host country is responsible for the conference fees and accommodation for the Secretary General.
 
CONFERENCES:
 
      8. Interval and Venue:
 
At each World Hereford Conference, the year and venue of the next Conference shall be decided.
Any member country wishing to host a World Hereford Conference must notify the Secretary General in writing at least 12 months before the Conference at which their application is to be considered. (5 years before holding the event)
 
      9. Representation:
 
Each full member shall be entitled to have two representatives at each World Conference and may also have in attendance at any one time, one advisor and/or interpreter.
 
      10. Session:
 
 (a) Sessions shall be either open or closed.
 (b) General meetings may be held between World Conferences with notice of the meeting and supporting papers circulated at least 3 months prior to the meeting.
General meetings may be held by electronic communication technology or a combination of electronic and in person.
 
      11. Chairman:
 
The Chairman shall be selected by the host country two years prior to holding the World Conference and will serve for a further two years after the World Conference until the succeeding chairman of the next host country is appointed.
 
      12. Voting:
 
Voting to be on a country basis, each country to be entitled to two votes. In the case of a country that has two separate Associations the two votes will be shared between them.
The Council Chairman will have a casting vote.
 
      13. Resolutions:
 
Resolutions shall be decided by a majority vote except for an amendment to the Constitution and Rules which shall require a two-thirds majority. Any decision reached shall take effect immediately, unless the World Hereford Council decides that ratification by the Councils of individual member Associations or Societies is necessary. In the latter event, notification or otherwise shall be communicated to the Secretary General within 12 months of the World Hereford Conference in question.
 
      14. Committees:
 
The World Hereford Council may appoint Committees for any specific purpose and such Committees shall be disbanded at the conclusion of the next World Conference, after new committees have been formed. Committees may include Observers and/or co-opted advisers at the discretion of the Council. They shall appoint their own Chairman and any decisions made must be passed by a majority vote. One vote per committee member.
The Executive Committee will consist of the Secretary General, Council Chairman and one member representing each of the following regions:
    Africa
    Australasia
    Europe
    North America
    South America
 
If a committee member resigns between conferences the World Hereford Council may appoint a replacement from the same region if they are an executive member or someone with the expertise required if they are from another committee.
 
        15. Co-option:
 
The Council may co-opt any outside person or bodies for attendance in an advisory capacity.
 
  BY-LAWS:
 
       16. Pedigree Records:
 
(a) Each Society shall reserve the right to divide their Registers or Herd Books into separate Hereford and Poll Hereford sections, provided that Hereford and Poll Hereford cattle from other countries be permitted to enter the Hereford and Poll Hereford section of such a Register or Herd Book respectively.
(b) Cattle covered by export certificates issued by members of the World Hereford Council and fully registered in a Hereford Herd Book must be honoured and accepted in the recognized Herd Books of all other participating member Countries.
(c) The Secretary General shall receive prior notice of any fundamental change in the registration procedure of a member of the World Hereford Council, together with an account of the registration procedure to be adopted, and a copy of the Rules. The Secretary General shall ensure that the change accords with the requirements for the immediate continuation of International Reciprocal Registration and will report the change to the subsequent Conference. If the Secretary General is not satisfied that the requirements have been fulfilled, International Reciprocal Registration shall be suspended until the full council has considered the subject.
(d) In the event of any change in the Registration Authority of a member of the World Hereford Council prior notice must be given to the Secretary General together with an account of the registration procedure to be adopted, and a copy of the Rules. The Secretary General shall ensure that the change accords with the requirements for the immediate continuation of International Reciprocal Registration and will report the change to the subsequent Conference. If the Secretary General is not satisfied that the requirements have been fulfilled, International Reciprocal Registrations shall be suspended until the full Council has considered the subject.
(e) The World Hereford Council rules incorporate a requirement that before an imported animal can be registered with the Breed Authority in a new country an export certificate for that animal must be issued by the Breed Registration Authority of the country from which an animal is exported and lodged with the Breed Authority in the importing Country.
 
         17. Genetic Abnormalities:
 
Members shall be permitted to impose regulations requiring certificates of freedom from known and identifiable genetic lethal abnormalities, for animals intended for importation and will be expected to accept the assurances of the country of origin. These certificates will also be extended to the Association or Society of the importing Country.
 
        18. Embryo(s)/Semen:
 
The World Hereford Council encourages the international exchange of genetic material from purebred Herefords between members of the World Hereford Council.
(a) When embryo(s)/semen are imported for pedigree purposes an export certificate shall be issued by the Hereford Society or Association of the exporting country, in accordance with the documentation required by the importing Society or Association.
(b) Animals resulting from embryo(s)/semen imported from member countries shall be registered by the importing country in accordance with their rules regarding purebred animals born in their country.
(c) All genetics exported must be Genetic profiled prior to export in line with the requirements of the importing country and rule 17.
(d) No country can impose more requirements (ie, freedom of genetic abnormalities) to imported genetics than those existing for the registration of local cattle, the exception being regulations set by Government, Local Authorities or by this Council.
 
POWERS OF THE SECRETARY GENERAL
 
       19. Powers and Duties of the Secretary General:
 
(a) The Secretary General shall be appointed by the World Hereford Council for a term of 4 years, with a maximum of 2 terms (8 years) and the term will cease 2 months after the election of a new Secretary General.
(b) The Secretary General, as the duly authorized representative of the World Hereford Council, shall be empowered to inspect, at any time, the records of any member of the Council for the purpose of ensuring that the registration procedure of the member is in accordance with the foregoing Rules. In the event of a default the Secretary General shall inform the member concerned of the nature of the breach of the Rules and shall forward a report thereon. Such member shall be invited to submit any written explanation to the subsequent meeting of the World Hereford Council who shall take such action as they think fit.
(c) The Secretary General shall submit expense reports every 6 months to the World Hereford Council Chairman for approval.
 
 POWERS OF COUNCIL
 
       20. Removal of Members:
 
The World Hereford Council shall be empowered to remove any member whose conduct shall be, in their opinion, derogatory and prejudicial to the interests of the World Hereford Council or does not conform to the Rules.
 
      21.Settlement of Disputes:
 
Any case of dispute referred to the World Hereford Council for arbitration and settlement shall be dealt with in accordance with the following procedure:
(a) At least six months before the meeting at which the dispute is to be discussed, a statement in writing shall be sent to the Secretary General setting forth all the facts in dispute and the contentions of the respective parties. The facts of the dispute, together with all signed statements, shall be presented to the World Hereford Council who shall be empowered to proceed in any manner they consider necessary. The decision of the Council shall be final and binding.
(b) The World Hereford Council shall not arbitrate upon any dispute unless all parties of such dispute have signed an undertaking to accept the decision of the Council which will be final and binding and it shall be competent for the Council, to assess costs in the arbitration proceedings and to award payment thereof.
 
        22. Amendment to Rules:
 
(a) Any proposed amendments to the Constitution and Rules must be submitted in writing to the Secretary General to enable the proposition to be circulated at least twelve months before the World Hereford Conference at which it is to be presented.
(b) No amendments to the Constitution and Rules shall be made which shall cause the World Hereford Council to cease to be a Charity according to the law of England and Wales.
 
      23. Dissolution of the Council:
 
If upon the winding up or dissolution of the World Hereford Council there remains, after satisfaction of its debts and liabilities any property whatsoever, the same shall be given or transferred to some other charitable Institution or Institutions having objects similar to the objects of the Council, or for such other charitable purposes for the improvement of agriculture, as may be determined by the Members of the Council on, or before the time of dissolution.

Updated at WHC Virtual Meeting on 30th March 2021