Statement of Anti-Trust Compliance

The Board of Directors of the Institute of Packaging Professionals (IoPP) has publicly stated its support for the policy of competition served by Federal antitrust laws, and its intent to comply strictly with these laws. In support of the Statement, the officers of the Institute of Packaging Professionals make the following requests of attendees at all IoPP sponsored meetings:

  1. Every attendee should be familiar with the provisions of the IoPP Statement and General Rules of Antitrust Compliance, the full text of each following below.
  2. The agenda for each meeting shall be followed, and permission of the chair must be obtained before any other matters of business are introduced.
  3. During each meeting, there shall be no discussion of pricing methods, costs, volume or conditions of production or sale, allocation of territories or customers, or any discussion which might be construed as limiting any person or business from free access to any market, customer, or source of supply.

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INSTITUTE OF PACKAGING PROFESSIONALS ANTITRUST POLICY STATEMENT
 
The Institute of Packaging Professionals is a not-for-profit society organized to serve and advance the profession of packaging. Its purpose is to provide, through its technical committees, chapters, and other activities, a common meeting ground where manufacturers and users of packaging materials, equipment and services can become informed of current technical developments and share professional interests. IoPP is not intended to, and may not, play any role in the competitive decisions of its members or their employers, nor in any way restrict competition among package users or manufacturers in any of the industries it serves.

Through its seminars, educational courses, chapter and technical committee meetings, and other activities, IoPP brings together representatives of competitors in many manufacturing areas. Although the subject matter of IoPP activities is normally technical in nature, and although the purpose of these activities is principally educational and there is no attempt to restrain competition in any manner, nevertheless the Board of Directors recognizes the possibility that the Institute and its activities could be seen by some as an opportunity for anticompetitive conduct. For this reason, the Board takes the opportunity, through this Statement of Policy, to make clear its unequivocal support for the policy of competition served by the antitrust laws and its uncompromising intent to comply strictly in all respects with these laws.

In addition to the Institute's firm commitment to the principle of competition served by the antitrust laws, the penalties which may be imposed upon both the Institute and its individual and corporate members involved in any violation of the antitrust laws are so severe that good business judgment demands that every effort be made to avoid such violation. Certain crimes for which individuals may be imprisoned for up to three (3) years or fined up to $100,000, or both, and corporations can be fined up to $1 million for each offense. In addition, treble damage claims by private parties (including class actions) for antitrust violations are extremely expensive to litigate and can result in judgments of a magnitude which could destroy the Institute and seriously affect the financial interest of its members.

It shall be the responsibility of every member of IoPP to be guided by the Institute's policy of strict compliance with the antitrust laws in all IoPP activities. It shall be the special responsibility of committee chairpersons, Institute officers, and officers of chapters to insure that this policy is known and adhered to in the course of activities pursued under their leadership.

To assist the IoPP staff and all of its officers, directors, and committee and chapter officers in recognizing situations which may raise the appearance of an antitrust problem, the Board will as a matter of policy furnish to each such persons the Institute's General Rules and Antitrust Compliance. Should questions arise as to the manner in which the antitrust laws may apply to the activities of IoPP or any committee or chapter thereof, such questions shall be directed to IoPP headquarters.

Antitrust compliance is the responsibility of every IoPP member. Any knowing violation of the IoPP General Rules of Antitrust Compliance or this general policy by an IoPP member will result in that person's suspension from membership in the Institute, and removal from any Institute office held.

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GENERAL RULES OF ANTITRUST COMPLIANCE
 
The following rules are applicable to all IoPP activities, and must be observed in all situations and under all circumstances without exception or qualification other than as noted below:

  1. Neither the Institute of Packaging Professionals nor any committee, chapter, or activity of IoPP shall be used for the purpose of bringing about or attempting to bring about any understanding or agreement, oral or written, formal or informal, expressed or implied, among competitors with regard to prices, terms or conditions of sale, distribution, volume of production, territories, or customers.
  2. No IoPP activity or communication shall include discussion for any purpose or in any fashion of pricing methods, production quotas or other limitations on either the timing, costs or volume of production or sale, or allocations of territories or customers.
  3. No IoPP activity or communication shall include any discussion which might be construed as an attempt to prevent any person or business entity from gaining access to any market or customer for goods or services or to prevent any business entity from obtaining a supply of goods or otherwise purchasing goods or services freely in the market.
  4. Neither IoPP nor any committee or chapter thereof shall make any effort to bring about the standardization of any product for the purpose or with the effect of preventing the manufacture or sale of any product not conforming to a specific standard.
  5. No IoPP activity or communication shall include any discussion of what might be construed as an agreement or understanding to refrain from purchasing any raw materials, equipment, services, or other supplies from an supplier.
  6. In conducting IoPP committee meetings, the chairperson shall prepare and follow a formal agenda. Minutes of the meeting shall be distributed to all committee members. Approval of the minutes shall be obtained for the committee at its next meeting. A copy of the minutes shall be sent promptly to the IoPP Technical Council via its secretary, and an additional copy to IoPP Headquarters, attn. Executive Director.
  7. Speakers at committee, chapter, and other technical IoPP meetings hall be informed of the need to comply with the Institute's antitrust policy in the preparation and presentation of their talks.
  8. At informal discussions at the site of an IoPP meeting, but beyond the control of its chairperson, all members are expected to observe the same standards of personal conduct as are required of the Institute in its compliance with these antitrust guidelines.

Address all questions concerning antitrust policy and guidelines to:

Executive Director
Institute of Packaging Professionals
12930 Worldgate Drive, Suite 200
Herndon, VA 20170 USA

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