General Terms and Conditions of Sale and Delivery of Federatie
Aandrijven en Automatiseren (Trading Companies)
Filed at the Registry of the Court of The Hague, the Netherlands,
on 26th of March 2014, under no. 90/2011
Issued by
FEDA, PO Box 190, 2700 AD Zoetermeer, the Netherlands
Art. I General
1. Where these General Terms and Conditions form part of offers and
agreements related to carrying out supplies and/or providing services by
the contractor, all provisions of these terms and conditions shall apply
between the parties, unless expressly specified otherwise in writing by both
parties. Any reference by the client to his own purchase, tender or other
terms and conditions are not accepted by the contractor.
2. In these conditions, the following words and phrases will have the following
meanings:
- product: goods and services, such as maintenance, advice and
inspection;
- in writing: by means of a document signed by both parties or by letter,
fax or e-mail message or any other technical means agreed by the
parties;
- the contractor: the person who refers to these terms and conditions in
his offer and/or order confirmation;
- the client: the person to whom the offer and/or order confirmation is
addressed;
In these conditions, the following word will include the following meaning:
- service: the contracting of work.
3. If reference is made in a provision to "these terms and conditions", these
also include the additional Feda terms and conditions regarding the
manufacturing, assembly and installation and system integrators.
Art. II Offer
1. Any offer made by the contractor is subject to contract.
2. Any offer is based on execution of the contract by the contractor under
normal conditions and during normal working hours.
Art. III Contract
1. If the contract is entered into in writing, it is concluded on the day the
contract is signed by the contractor or on the day of written order
confirmation of the contractor.
2. Anything delivered and/or installed by the contractor in consultation with
the client during the execution of the contract, whether recorded in writing
or not, in excess of the quantities expressly set out in the contract or the
order confirmation or anything performed by him in excess of the work
expressly set out in the contract or order confirmation will be regarded as
additional work.
3. Verbal promises and agreements with employees of the contractor will only
be binding on the contractor after and in as far as he has confirmed them
in writing.
Art. IV Price
1. The prices quoted by the contractor are exclusive of turnover tax and other
government charges related to the sale and delivery and are based on
delivery ex works according to Incoterms applicable on the date of the
offer, unless otherwise stipulated in these terms and conditions. Ex works
means that delivery takes place at the premises of the contractor.
2. If after the date of conclusion of the contract one or more cost price factors
are raised - even if this occurs due to foreseeable circumstances -, the
contractor is entitled to raise the agreed price accordingly.
3. The contract shall include the right of the contractor to invoice any
additional work that he carried out separately, as soon as he knows the
amount to be charged for it. The rules set out in paragraphs 1 and 2 of this
article apply by analogy to the calculation of additional work.
4. Any packaging is not included in the price and will be invoice separately.
Packaging is not taken back.
Art. V Drawings, calculations, descriptions, designs, tools, etc.
1. Data mentioned in catalogues, illustrations, drawings, specifications of
measurements and weights and the like are only binding if and when
expressly included in a contract signed by the parties or an order
confirmation signed by the contractor.
2. The offer made by the contractor, as well as the drawings, illustrations,
calculations, descriptions, software, designs, tools, etc. that it prepares or
provides remain the property of the contractor, even when fees have been
charged for them. The intellectual property rights to the information
implied in them or that are the basis of the manufacturing and construction
methods, products, etc. remain exclusively vested in the contractor, even
when a fee has been charged for them. The client guarantees that except
when in the performance of the contract, the information referred to above
will only be copied, modified, shown to third parties, disclosed or used
subject to the written permission of the contractor.
Art. VI Delivery time
1. The delivery period starts on the following dates, whichever is the latest:
a. the date of conclusion of the contract;
b. the date of receipt by the contractor of the documents, data, permits,
etc. that are necessary for the execution of the contracted work;
c. the date of satisfying the formalities that are necessary to start with the
work;
d. the date of receipt by the contractor of the amount that in accordance
with the contract must be paid in advance prior to commencement of the
work.
If a delivery date or week has been agreed to, the delivery period consists
of the period between the date of conclusion of the contract and the
delivery date or week.
2. The delivery period given is approximate only and is based on the working
conditions valid on the date of conclusion of the contract and the timely
delivery of the materials ordered by the contractor that are necessary for
the execution of the work. If through no fault of the contractor a delay
occurs as a result of a modification to the working conditions referred to
above or because the materials ordered that are necessary for the
execution of the work are not delivered in time, the delivery period will be
extended insofar as necessary.
3. With regard to the delivery period, the product will be deemed to have
been delivered when it is ready for inspection, in case an inspection at the
company of the contractor has been agreed, and in the other cases when it
is ready for shipment, after the client has been informed thereof in writing
and subject to the obligation of the contractor to comply with his assembly
/ installation obligations, if any.
4. Without prejudice to the provisions elsewhere in these conditions in respect
of an extension of the delivery period, the delivery period will be extended
with the duration of the delay that the contractor experiences as a result of
the client's failure to comply with any of its obligations arising from the
contract or to give the assistance it is required to give in respect of the
execution of the contract.
5. If the delivery time is exceeded, this does not entitle the client to terminate
the contract wholly or in part, unless the period is exceeded with more
than 16 weeks or it will last longer than 16 weeks in accordance to notice
given by the contractor. In case the delivery period is exceeded as referred
to above, the client may terminate the agreement by written notice to the
contractor and in that case, he will be entitled, if applicable, to restitution
of the (part of the) price already paid for the product and to compensation
of the damage that he suffered, up to a maximum of 15 percent of the
agreed price for the delivered product. If the delivery period is only
exceeded for a part of the product, the compensation will be calculated on
the basis of the part of the purchase price that relates to the part of the
product that is not delivered. Unless the client exercises the right referred
to above to terminate the contract, exceeding the delivery period - for any
reason whatsoever - does not entitle the client to carry out or cause to
carry out works in performance of the contract without authorization from
the court.
Art. VII Inspection
1. The client shall inspect the product at the latest within 14 days after the
delivery referred to in article VI, paragraph 3 or - if assembly/installation
has been agreed on - at the latest within 14 days after the
assembly/installation. If this period has expired without written and
specified notice of well-founded complaints or if the product is put into use
for commercial production before this period ends, the product is deemed
to have been accepted.
2. In case of insignificant defects, especially those that hardly affect the
anticipated use of the product, if at all, the product will be deemed to have
been accepted regardless these defects. The contractor shall remedy such
defects as soon as possible.
3. Without prejudice to the obligation of the contractor to comply with his
warranty obligations, the acceptance in accordance with the provisions on
inspection and acceptance test shall exclude any claim of the client with
regard to a failure in the performance of the contractor.
Art. VIII Risk transfer and transmission of ownership
1. Immediately following the delivery of the product in the sense of art. VI,
paragraph 3, the client bears the risk for all direct and indirect damage that
might occur to or be caused by this product, except if and when the
damage is due to intent or wilful recklessness of employees forming part of
the management of the company of the contractor. If after notice of
default the client fails to purchase the product, the contractor is entitled to
charge the client for the costs arising from this failure. Compliance with
national export laws and regulations is at the expense and risk of the client
and is not a valid reason to fail to purchase.
2. Without prejudice to the provisions of the previous paragraph and those of
art. VI, paragraph 3, the ownership of the products is transferred to the
client when everything the client owes the contractor on account of
supplies or works, including interest and costs, has been paid to the
contractor in full.
3. In case of invoking paragraph 2, the contractor will be entitled to
unhindered access to the product. The client shall fully cooperate with the
contractor in order to give the contractor the opportunity to exercise the
retention of title included in paragraph 2 by repossessing the product,
including any disassembly required to that effect.
4. Without prejudice to the provisions set out in the preceding paragraphs,
the client undertakes to cooperate on demand of the contractor in the
creation of a non-possessory pledge on products that as a result of
payment have been transferred to the client or on products in which the
products delivered have been included and/or of which they have become a
part.
5. The contractor has a right of retention in respect of all products of the
client that are held by the contractor, whether or not on behalf of the
client, until the client has complied with all his obligations towards the
contractor.
Art. IX Payment
1. Unless otherwise agreed, the agreed price shall be paid within 30 days
after the invoice date.
2. Payment of additional work shall be made as soon as this has been charged
to the client.
3. All payments shall be made without any deduction or setoff at the offices of
the contractor or into an account to be designated by him.
4. The contractor reserves the right to make partial deliveries, which will be
invoiced separately.
5. If the client does not pay within the agreed terms, he is deemed to be in
default by operation of law, and the contractor is entitled, without any
further notice of default being required, to charge the client interest as of
the due date at an interest rate that is 3 points higher than the legal
interest in force in the Netherlands, as referred to in art. 6:119a art. 6:120
paragraph 2 of the Netherlands Civil Code, and furthermore to charge him
for all court and other costs related to the collection of the debt.
Art. X Warranty
1. Without prejudice to the restrictions set out below, the contractor
guarantees both the reliability of the products he delivers (not being a
service) and the quality of the materials used and/or delivered for them, in
as far as defects to a delivered product are concerned that were not visible
during inspection or acceptance tests and in respect of which the client
proves that they have occurred within 12 months after the delivery in
accordance with article VI paragraph 3 exclusively or preponderantly as a
direct result of an error in the construction used by the contractor or as a
result of faulty workmanship or use of poor materials. The period of 12
months is based on operation which does not exceed 8 hours per day
during 5 days per week. If the daily use of the product exceeds the agreed
use, this period will be reduced accordingly.
2. Any defect covered by the warranty wil be removed by the contractor by
means of repair or replacement of the faulty part, whether or not at the
company of the client, or by sending a replacement part, this at the sole
discretion of the contractor. All costs that exceed the sole obligation as
described in the preceding sentence, including, but not limited to transport
costs and travel and accommodation expenses as well as costs of
disassembly and assembly/installation, are at the expense of the client.
A new warranty period of 12 months will apply to repaired or replaced
parts, on the understanding that any warranty expires as soon as 24
months after delivery of the product in accordance with article VI
paragraph 3 have passed.
3. Inspection, advice and similar services provided by the contractor are not
warranted.
4. The warranty does not cover defects that occur in or are wholly or in part
caused by:
a. noncompliance with the operating and maintenance instructions or any
use other than the anticipated normal use;
b. normal wear;
c. assembly/installation or repair by the client or third parties;
d. the applicability of any government regulation regarding the nature or
quality of the materials used;
e. materials or goods used in consultation with the client;
f. materials or goods provided by the client to the contractor for
processing;
g. materials, goods, working methods and constructions, in as far as used
on the express instruction of the client, as well as the materials and
goods supplied by or on behalf of the client;
h. parts purchased by the contractor from third parties, in as far as the
third party has not issued a warranty to the contractor or the warranty
issued by the third party has expired;
i. the connection of the products delivered to piping or wiring that does
not comply with the standards required by the contractor;
j. the use of unsuitable and/or contaminated types of oil/lubricants, the
use of contaminated and wet compressed air, dirt in the product, or
use of the product in an aggressive or otherwise unsuitable
environment.
5. If the client does not comply with any obligation arising from the contract
or any contract related thereto between the client and the contractor, or
fails to do so in a prompt or proper manner, the contractor does not have
any warranty obligations whatsoever in respect of any of these contracts,
regardless of how such warranty is called. If the client proceeds or causes
to proceed to the disassembly, repair or alteration of the product or other
works to the product, any claim under the warranty will lapse.
6. Complaints with regard to defects shall be submitted in writing as soon as
possible after having discovered them, within the warranty period. In case
of discovery on the last day of the warranty period, the complaint shall be
submitted in writing at the latest within 14 days after expiry of the
warranty period. When these terms are exceeded, any claim against the
contractor for those defects shall lapse. Legal actions must be filed within
one (1) year of the complaint being made in good time, at the risk of such
a claim lapsing.
7. If the contractor replaces parts/products in the fulfilment of its obligations
under the warranty, the replaced parts/products become the property of
the contractor.
8. The alleged failure of the contractor to comply with his warranty obligations
does not discharge the client from the obligations that arise for him from
the contract concluded with the contractor.
Article XI Liability
1. The liability of the contactor is limited to compliance with the warranty
obligations described in article X of these terms and conditions. If the
contactor has not complied with his obligations arising from article X.
within a reasonable period of time, the client may set a last, appropriate
period for compliance by the contractor with these obligations. If the
contractor fails to comply with his obligations within this last period, the
client may carry out the necessary repairs or have a third party carry out
the necessary repairs at the expense of the contractor. If repairs are
carried out by the client or by a third parties, the contractor will be
discharged from all liability for the defect in question after payment of the
reasonable costs incurred by the client, provided that these costs will
amount to 15 percent at most of the agreed price for the product delivered.
2. If the repairs referred to in paragraph 1 are not carried out successfully,
the client shall notify the contractor hereof in writing without delay. After
this notification:
a. the client is entitled to a discount on the agreed price for the product
delivered in proportion to the decrease in value of the product, on the
understanding that this discount will be 15 percent at most of the
agreed price of the product delivered, or
b. if the defect is of such a serious nature that it substantially deprives the
client of the benefits of the contract, the client may terminate the
contract by giving written notice to the contractor. In that case, the
client is entitled to restitution of the price paid for the product delivered
and to a compensation of the damage that he has suffered, up to a
maximum of 15 percent of the agreed price for the product delivered.
Within 1 year after a complaint being made in good time, the client shall
invoke the rights mentioned in paragraph 2 a and b at the risk of forfeiting
all rights.
3. Unless intent or wilful recklessness exists on the part of employees forming
part of the management of the contractor and subject to the provisions in
art. VI, paragraph 5 and in paragraphs 1 and 2 of this article, any liability
of the contractor for defects in the product delivered and in connection with
the delivery, such as for damage for exceeding the delivery period and the
failure to deliver, for damage as a result of liability towards third parties,
for loss of profits and consequential damage, and for damage caused by
any wrongful act or omission of (the employees of) the contractor is
excluded.
4. Consequently, the contractor is not liable for:
- infringement of patents, licences or other rights of third parties;
- damage to or loss of, for any reason whatsoever, the raw materials,
semi-finished goods, models, tools and other goods made available by
the client.
5. If the contractor provides assistance - any nature whatsoever - during the
assembly/installation without having contracted the assembly/installation,
this is done at the risk of the client.
6. The client is obliged to indemnify the contractor against all claims of third
parties for compensation.
Art. XII Force majeure
In these General Terms and Conditions of Delivery, force majeure means
any circumstance beyond the control of the contractor - even if such
circumstance was already foreseeable on conclusion of the contract -, that
permanently or temporarily prevents performance of the contract as well
as, in as far as not included in these circumstances, war, threat of war,
terrorism, civil war, riots, strikes, lock-outs, troubles with transport, fire
and any other serious breakdowns in the company of the contractor or that
of his suppliers.
Art. XIII Suspension and termination
1. If the contractor is unable to perform the contract as a result of force
majeure, he is entitled, without any court intervention, to suspend the
contract for six months at most or to terminate the contract wholly or in
part, without being obliged to pay any compensation.
During the suspension, the contractor is authorized and at the end of it is
obliged to opt for execution, if possible, or termination of the contract or a
part thereof.
2. Both in the event of suspension and in the event of termination pursuant to
paragraph 1, the contractor is entitled to demand immediate payment of
the raw materials, materials, parts and other goods purchased, reserved,
processed and manufactured by him, at the value that must be assigned to
them in all reasonableness. In the event of termination pursuant to
paragraph 1, after payment of the amount due pursuant to the preceding
sentence, the client is obliged to take possession of the goods included in
that amount, in default whereof the contractor is authorized to have these
goods stored at the expense and risk of the client or to destroy them at the
expense or risk of the latter.
3. If there are good grounds for fearing that the client is not or will not be
able or willing to comply with his contractual obligations towards the
contractor, as well as in the case of bankruptcy, suspension on payments,
closing down, liquidation or transfer of the business of the client or a part
thereof, the contractor is entitled to require appropriate security with
regard to the contractual obligations of the client (whether due or not) and
to suspend performance of the contract pending such security. In the event
of failure to provide security within a reasonable period of time established
by the contractor, the contractor is entitled to terminate the contract
wholly or in part. The contractor has these rights in addition to his other
rights pursuant to the law, the contract and these terms and conditions.
4. If the client does not comply with any obligation arising from the contract
or any contract related thereto between the client and the contractor, or
fails to do so in a prompt or proper manner, the contractor is also entitled
to suspend performance of the contract and/or to terminate the contract.
5. In the event of suspension pursuant to paragraphs 3 or 4, the contractor is
entitled to have the raw materials, materials, parts and other goods
purchased, reserved, processed and manufactured by him stored at the
expense and risk of the client. In the event of termination pursuant to
paragraphs 3 or 4, the preceding sentence applies by analogy, on the
understanding that instead of having them stored, the contractor may also
choose to sell or destroy them at the expense of the client. In the event of
suspension or termination pursuant to paragraphs 3 or 4, the contractor is
entitled to full compensation, without being liable to pay any compensation.
Art. XIV Disputes
Any dispute that may arise by reason of a contract to which these terms and
conditions apply wholly or in part or by reason of any further contracts arising
therefrom will be settled by the competent Dutch court. If the law does not
provide for the competence of a Dutch court, the court of the district of the
contractor will have competence.
Art. XV Applicable law
Only Dutch law, valid for the European territory of the Kingdom of the
Netherlands, applies to contracts to which these conditions apply wholly or in
part. The applicability of the Vienna Sales Convention is explicitly excluded.