NOFOTA stands for Netherlands Oils, Fats and Oilseeds Trade Association, being the Dutch umbrella-organisation of companies concerned with the production, consumption and trade of these commodities. It draws up standard contracts, which are of international usage (NOFOTA Trading Rules latest version (as from 1 January 2023)). Moreover it provides a mechanism for the settlement of disputes by its arbitration institute.
NOFOTA was founded in Rotterdam on 1 October 1918 as ‘Nederlandsche Bond voor den Handel in Vetten, Oliën en Oliezaden’, the final name change to ‘Netherlands Oils, Fats and Oilseeds Trade Association’ (NOFOTA) became a fact in 1977. This was a consequence of the international character of the trade and the ‘players’ involved in the trade in various European countries.
NOFOTA has been granted on 3 December 2018 the ‘Royal’ designation by His Majesty King Willem-Alexander on the occasion of its 100th anniversary.
The book can be bought for € 25,00 ex vat for members and € 35,00 ex vat for non-members. If you are interested, please contact the secretariat of NOFOTA.
18 April 2024 AGM, Arbitrators Meeting and Annual Report 2023
13 April 2023 AGM, Arbitrators Meeting and Annual Report 2022
21 April 2022 AGM, Arbitrators Meeting and Annual Report 2021
22 April 2021 AGM, Arbitrators Meeting and Annual Report 2020
Disputes that arise from the NOFOTA contract are being settled by arbitration. The appointment committee, consists of three persons and are elected by the General Annual Meeting. They appoint three arbitrators in case of an arbitration in first instance and five arbitrators in case of an appeal.
Dispute settlement by arbitrations is a quick and relatively cheap way of jurisdiction.
An application for arbitration must be made in writing and contain a brief exposition of the dispute, together with the formulation of the claim of claims made.
The secretary of the division informs the claimant in writing about the amount it has to pay as a deposit at the secretariat for the costs of arbitration.
The defendant shall be given an opportunity to submit a written defence before a date to be fixed by the secretary of the division.
Arbitrators shall give parties an opportunity to be heard by them at a time and place to be determined by the arbitrators. Arbitrators shall give their award as good persons in equity.
The secretary of the division shall send each party a copy of any arbitral award by registered letter. For more information regarding the rules for arbitration contact the secretariat or consult the NOFOTA Trading Rules, which are available on this website.
The list of arbitrators, both for the Oils & Fats section as well as for the Groundnut section can be found under the members section of the website.
To become an arbitrator you need to comply with the criteria as published on this page on the website and act in accordance with the Code of Practice for arbitrators.
Why does someone becomes an arbitrator?
This committee handles technical questions, aligns test methods and ring tests with FOSFA International. The Technical Committee also performs audits for the recognition of tank storage companies, laboratories and superintendent companies.
R. van Kempen (Chairman)
B. Brakenhof
JH. Pepping
M. Snieder
A. Boer
C. van der Geest
A. Overmars
A. Gario
T. Akkermans
S. Wolthuis
G. Bescoby (co-opted member representing FOSFA)
R. van Noord (secretary)
P. van Beek
P. Bastijns
N. Janssen
H. van der Moolen
M. Frijmuth
R. Bergwerf
M. van Andel
C. Tange-Fasseur
F. Cobussen
R. Flokstra
This committee discusses contractual topics and reviews the NOFOTA Trading Rules (NTR) and Rules for Arbitration (NRA).
L. Margaka (Chairman)
S. Buisman
L. Verstelle (representing the storage companies) – alternate E. Dominicus
N. van der Poel
F. Ketting
O. Smit (representing the superintendents)
M. Sauer
W. Grooss
J. Postema (representing the brokers)
C. Huurman (Vice-Chairman)
R. Versluis
S. Kroeger (agenda member – representing GROFOR)
P. van Pollaert (agenda member – representing UCOGRAS)
R. van Noord (secretary)
Louis Braillelaan 80
2719 EK Zoetermeer
Mr. R. van Noord – Secretary General
Tel. +31(0)79-363 4399
e-mail: info@nofota.com
VAT Number: NL002533753B01
Chamber of Commerce: 40342580
Do you have any questions or comments about Nofota? Please fill in the form below and we will contact you shortly.
The Council forms the management of the association. The Board Members represent various parts of the industry. The Presidium consists of a Vice-President, President, Past-President and Secretary-General. The Council meets about four times a year and looks after the policy of the association.
L. Dorrestein (President)
G. van der Heijde (Vice President)
J. Aalberts (Past President)
G. Jaspers
S. Oudshoorn
S. Rekic (representing the brokers)
M. Henneman
T. Windhopf
G. van Seijen
B. Evers
L. Tout (FOSFA representative)
R. van Noord (Secretary General)
This video was shown during the NOFOTA annual dinner programme on 12 April 2018.
The book can be bought for € 25,00 ex vat for members and € 35,00 ex vat for non-members. If you are interested, please contact the secretariat of NOFOTA.
Saturdays, Sundays, public holidays and any day or part of a day which the Association shall declare to be a non-working day at the place where acts have to be performed in execution of this contract, shall not be considered as working days. Besides the weekends the NOFOTA NON-Business Days are:
| Non-business days 2024 | |
| 1 January 29 March 1 April 9 May 20 May 24 December 25 December 26 December 31 December | New Years Day (Monday) Good Friday (Friday) Easter Monday Ascension Day Whit Monday Christmas Eve* (Tuesday) Christmas Day (Wednesday) Boxing Day (Thursday) New Year’s Eve* (Tuesday) |
| Non-business days 2025 | |
| 1 January 18 April 21 April 5 May 29 May 9 June 24 December 25 December 26 December 31 December | New Years Day (Wednesday) Good Friday (Friday) Easter Monday Liberation Day (Monday) Ascension Day Whit Monday Christmas Eve* (Wednesday) Christmas Day (Thursday) Boxing Day (Friday) New Year’s Eve* (Wednesday) |
Dates with an * indicate a half non-business day starting 12.00 hrs.
As per Rule 18.1 of the NOFOTA Rules of Arbitration, companies who default on contract terms and who fail to honour awards against them, may be ‘posted’ as defaulters; a process handled via the NOFOTA Council and Appointment Committee.
NOFOTA draws up the following standard contracts
Trading Rules: previous versions
General Contract for the Trade in Edible Groundnuts, C.I.F./C.& F.-conditions
General Contract for the Trade in Edible Groundnuts, Spot Conditions/ Free on truck/ Free Delivered
NOFOTA draws up the following standard contracts
Version 1 January 2019
Trading Rules: previous versions
General Contract for the Trade in Meat
General Contract for the Trade in Edible Groundnuts, C.I.F./C.& F.-conditions
General Contract for the Trade in Edible Groundnuts, Spot Conditions/ Free on truck/ Free Delivered
Contract for the Trade in Meat and Slaughter-House Products, chilled or frozen, Spot contract/Free Delivered
Contract for the Trade in Meat and Offals, chilled or frozen, F.A.S./F.O.B./ C.& F.-terms
