Government Decree on the Agrifood Research Finland (No. 156 of 2001)

NB: Unofficial translation © Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Finland Government Decree on the Agrifood Research Finland (156/2001) Section 1 - Organisation and staff (1) The Agrifood Research Finland may have research units and other operative units. (2) The Board of Directors steers and controls the operations of the Agrifood Research Finland. (3) The Agrifood Research Finland is headed by the Director-General. (4) The Agrifood Research Finland may have offices of Research Director, Professor, Research Professor, Director of Administrative Affairs, Director of operative unit and Director of research unit, and other staff under employment relationship or contract of employment. Appointments to the offices of Research Director, Research Professor, Director of operative unit and Director of research unit may be made for no more than five years at a time. (5) Director-General, Research Director and Director of research unit hold the Professor's title. Section 2 - Board of Directors (1) The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry Appoints to the Board of Directors no more than seven members with expertise in industry, agricultural and food sector, and rural development. The Ministry nominates one of them as the Chairperson and one as Vice Chairperson. The Board of Directors also includes the Director-General of the Agrifood Research Finland and one staff representative. The term of the Board of Directors is three years. (2) The Board of Directors is summoned by the Chairperson or Vice Chairperson. The members present constitute a quorum if the Chairperson and at least half of the members attend the meeting. (3) The decisions of the Board of Directors are made by the simple majority of votes. If the vote is tied, the proposal which the Chairperson has supported is the decision. (4) The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry determines the remuneration of the members of the Board of Directors. Section 3 - Advisory Boards (1) The Director-General may, after hearing the Board of Directors, appoint temporary Advisory Boards where he or she invites the Chairperson and experts in the field concerned. (2) The tasks of the Advisory Board are decided by the Director General. Section 4 - Decisions on matters (1) Matters pertaining to the Agrifood Research Finland are decided by the Board of Directors, Director-General or, as set out in the rules of procedure, other official. (2) Matters are decided on the basis of presentation, unless otherwise provided in the rules of procedure. Section 5 - Matters decided by the Board of Directors (1) The duties of the Board of Directors are: 1) to decide on setting the priorities and objectives for the Agrifood Research Finland in accordance with the performance objectives established together with the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry; in particular, setting the objectives for strategic research and allocating the budget funding for the Agrifood Research Finland; 2) to conclude the performance agreement with the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry; 3) to decide on the operating and financial plan of the Agrifood Research Finland, together with a budget proposal, the annual operating plan and approval of the annual report; 4) to decide on other matters which are general in scope and significant in principle for the Agrifood Research Finland. Section 6 - Duties of the Director-General (1) The duties of the Director-general are: 1) to direct, control and develop the operations of the Agrifood Research Finland and hold the responsibility for the performance of the operations and meeting the objectives set for the institute; 2) to decide on the rules of procedure after hearing the Board of Directors; 3) to decide issues pertaining to the Agrifood Research Finland which are not decided by the Board of Directors and which have not been referred to another official; 4) in isolated cases to decide a matter which otherwise would be decided by an official. Section 7 - Required qualifications (1) The required qualifications for offices at the Agrifood Research Finland are: 1) for Director-General, Research Director and Director of research unit, a doctoral degree, good knowledge on the specific field concerned, managerial skills proven in practice and experience in management, and sufficient foreign language skills; 2) for Professor and Research Professor, a doctoral degree, good knowledge of research work in the field concerned, managerial skills, and sufficient foreign language skills; 3) for Director of Administrative Affairs, a higher academic degree, good knowledge in organisational management and development, managerial skills proven in practice, and sufficient foreign language skills; 4) for Director of other operative units, a higher academic degree, knowledge of the field concerned, managerial skills proven in practice, and language skills required for the duties. Section 8 - Appointment to offices (1) The Director-General is appointed by the Government on the proposal of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. (2) Research Director, Professor, Research Professor, Director of operative unit, Director of research unit and Director of Administrative Affairs are appointed by the Board of Directors on the proposal of the Director-General. (3) Research Professor's office may also be filled by the invitation procedure. (4) Other staff to offices or employment based on a contract are appointed or employed by the Director-General or other staff member of the Agrifood Research Finland as set out in the rules of procedure. Section 9 - Leave of absence (1) Leave of absence is granted: 1) to the Director-General by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry for no more than a year and the Finnish Government for more than a year; 2) to the Research Director, Professor, Research Professor, Director of operative unit, Director of research unit and Director of Administrative Affairs, by the Director-General for no more than a year and by the Board of Directors for more than a year; 3) to other officials by the Director-General or other official as set out in the rules of procedure. (2) Rules for granting leave of absence which an official is entitled to under the law or the collective agreement are set out in the rules of procedure. Section 10 - Substitutes (1) The official who granted the leave of absence decides on the management of the office during the leave of absence or when an office is vacant. Section 11 - Representing the State's interest (1) The Agrifood Research Finland carries responsibility and liability on behalf of the State and supervises the State's interests in a court of law and offices in all matters pertaining to the institute unless otherwise provided by law. Section 12 - Researchers and trainees (1) The Agrifood Research Finland may also have temporary researchers and trainees who without pay or remuneration carry out research work and are allowed to use the research facilities offered by the institute. (2) The conditions for taking on researchers and trainees and their status are laid down in the rules of procedure. Section 13 - Rules of procedure (1) The rules of procedure set out further provisions on the duties and distribution of labour of the research and operative units of the Agrifood Research Finland, nominating a deputy for the Director-General, duties of the staff, preparation and presentation of matters, signing of documents, and other organisation of the administration of the Agrifood Research Finland. (2) The rules of procedure are adopted by the Director-General. Section 14 - Entry into force (1) This Decree enters into force on 1 March 2001. (2) Measures necessary for the implementation of this Decree may be undertaken before the Decree's entry into force.