{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/eu-decision-2013-701/annex-I/article-4",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/eu-decision-2013-701/annex-I/article-4.json",
  "legislation": "eudn/2013/701",
  "legislation_title": "Commission Implementing Decision of 22 November 2013 on setting up the Biobanks and Biomolecular Resources Research Infrastructure Consortium (BBMRI-ERIC) as a European Research Infrastructure Consortium (2013/701/EU)",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/eu-decision-2013-701",
  "path": "annex/I/article/4",
  "kind": "article",
  "number": "4",
  "heading": "Members and Observers",
  "text": "1. In accordance with Article 9(1) of Regulation (EC) No 723/2009, Member States, associated countries, third countries other than associated countries, and intergovernmental organisations that have agreed to these Statutes are Members of BBMRI-ERIC. The founding members are set out in Annex II.\n2. Member States, third countries as well as intergovernmental organisations may become members BBMRI-ERIC at any time, subject to approval by the Assembly of Members according to the principles laid down in Article 11(8)(b). Additional requirements concerning Members joining BBMRI-ERIC after the first three years shall be decided by the Assembly of Members.\n3. Each Member shall:\n(a) provide access, within the applicable legal and ethical framework, to BBMRI-ERIC Partner Biobanks, biological and biomolecular resources and/or associated data under a common set of standards and conditions as further specified in the BBMRI-ERIC Partner Charter and approved by the Assembly of Members;\n(b) establish a National/Organisational Node and appoint a National/Organisational Coordinator;\n(c) ensure coordination of Partner Biobanks via National/Organisational Nodes that will facilitate access to biological and biomolecular resources and associated data;\n(d) where appropriate, make investments in infrastructure in support of BBMRI-ERIC;\n(e) contribute to capacity development in the field of biobanking;\n(f) support the primary purpose of BBMRI-ERIC and the implementation of the BBMRI-ERIC Work Programme.\n4. Any Member may, after the initial five years of its accession to BBMRI-ERIC, withdraw from the BBMRI-ERIC by a written notice to the Chair of the Assembly of Members and to the Director-General, at the latest three months before the approval of the following year’s budget.\n5. The Director-General may propose to the Assembly of Members that a defaulting Member should be excluded.\n6. The initial list of Members is set out in Annex II and shall be kept updated online by the Central Executive Management Office.\n7. Observers of BBMRI-ERIC are Member States, associated countries and third countries as defined in Article 9(1) ERIC Regulation and intergovernmental organisations that have applied to become Observers.\n8. Observer status is granted for a maximum period of three years subject to an approval of the Assembly of Members as laid down in Article 11(8)(c). After the three-year period, Observers shall either apply for membership or withdraw from the BBMRI-ERIC, unless the Assembly of Members decides otherwise.\n9. Observers are entitled to:\n(a) participate — without voting rights — in the debates of the Assembly of Members;\n(b) participate in certain activities of BBMRI-ERIC identified by the Assembly of Members.\n10. The initial list of Observers is set out in Annex II and shall be kept updated online by the Central Executive Management Office.",
  "extent": "E+W+S+N.I.",
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/eudn/2013/701/annex/I/article/4",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-11-01T15:14:57.296195+00:00"
  },
  "licence": "Open Government Licence v3.0",
  "licence_url": "https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/",
  "attribution": "Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives."
}