STATUTES of the World Horting Federation, New Jersej, United States (October, 2025)
WORLD HORTING FEDERATION
(World Horticulture Congress, International Office)
STATUTES
WORLD HORTING FEDERATION
New Jersey, USA
October 2025
STATUTES
Incorporating all amendments made at the 2025 Annual Congress, October 10, 2025
The WORLD HORTING FEDERATION (WHF) is the international federation governing all aspects of horting worldwide, either directly through its own organs, or through its national member bodies, or by administrative agreements with other persons and organizations.
The purpose of these Statutes is:
1. to ensure that WHF’s affairs are based on clear, sound principles and a strict
democratic process, and not on other factors;
2 to ensure fairness, openness and principles in the conduct of WHF affairs;
3. to assure the free and effective participation of Members in the Congress;
4. to ensure accountability by the Presidium to the Congress;
5. to ensure the improvement and popularization of horting;
6. to ensure a sound legal basis and modern principles of business administration in IKKF affairs;
7. to ensure the clear and effective operation of the Presidium as the WHF's political and strategic organ between Congress;
8. to ensure effective management of WHF by the International Committee (IC);
9. to ensure the financial success of WHF.
- Articles -
Article 1: CONSTITUTION AND OBJECTS
1. The World Horting Federation hereafter referred to as "WHF", is a permanent organisation with a legal status, founded on the year 2025 and is composed of the National Horting Federation of every World Nation.
2. The WHF shall be based in the city established by the International Committee.
3. The WHF has nothing at all to do with matters pertaining to politics, religion or race, and is a non profit organization.
4. The WHF performs activity on an amateur basis in compliance with the principles set forth in the Olympic Charter.
5. The official languages of the WHF shall be English. All official WHF documents must be published in these languages. International Committee, meetings and sessions must be held at least in English. In the event of disputes, the decision shall be based on the English text.
6. The WHF is recognized by the latter as its only representative in National Horting Federations. It shall also work closely with 5 (five) Continental Unions recognized by the organization.
7. Continental Unions are regional governing bodies that oversee and develop the sport within a specific continent. The WHF recognizes in principle 5 (five) Continental Federations: Africa, America, Asia, Europe and Oceania.
The Continental Horting Federations shall collaborate with the WHF within their areas of jurisdiction to the best of their ability, adhering to the WHF regulations and standards, recognizing the supreme authority of the WHF in all matters related to the sport of horting.
8. The WHF has the aim of promoting, organizing, regulating and popularizing the sport of horting.
Article 2: ECONOMIC RESOURCES
1. The WHF shall pursue its institutional goals by means of revenues deriving from membership and annual fees, competition entry fees, courses and exams, the organization of official competitions, the issue of licenses and diplomas, bequests and donations, and any other form of income providing it has been approved by the International Committee. All the television, radio, film and photographic rights of the WHF championships, World Championships and other international events organized by the WHF are the exclusive property of the WHF. These rights may not be sold or negotiated without the written agreement of the International Committee, which may delegate its authority to negotiate the sale or utilization of these rights, but which shall support the sole responsibility for the final decision and for the utilization of the income from the sale of the rights.
2. The accounting period adopted by the WHF shall coincide with the calendar year.
(1st January - 31st December).
3. The budget, relative variations and the final balance sheet, approved by the International Committee, and the reports of the WHF President, General Treasurer and Board of Auditors, must be approved by the Congress.
Article 3: ASSETS
1. All existing WHF assets must be included in an inventory ledger kept by the General Treasurer and certified by the Board of Auditors.
Article 4: AFFILIATIONS
1. The National Karate Federations of every World Nation whose Olympic Committee is recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) may be affiliated to the WHF.
2. Only one National Federation per country is allowed, namely the one recognized by the National Olympic Committee or by the Highest Sport Authority of that country.
3. National Federations wishing to be affiliated to the WHF must be an independent organization in their own country. The President and the other members of the International Committee must be democratically elected.
4. National Federations wishing to be affiliated to the WHF must send a complete dossier of documentation to the General Secretary together with the relative membership fee.
5. Affiliation shall be deemed provisional when it has been accepted by the International Committee. Affiliation shall be considered permanent when it has been ratified by the Congress. Provisionally affiliated National Federations shall enjoy all rights except voting rights.
6. If a National Federation is not yet recognized by the National Olympic Committee or by its nation's Highest Sports Authority, it may equally apply for affiliation. All relative decisions shall be taken by the Congress. If this decision should be favorable, affiliation shall be considered provisional, and shall become permanent following Congress ratification the following year.
7. The members of the WHF are the National Horting Federations recognized by the WHF and affiliated to it. The National Federations may also be members of Continental Horting Federations or Associations of National Federations affiliated with WHF.
8. If a country is not included within the geographical limits of a Continental Union, it may ask to be affiliated to the most adjacent Continental Union.
9. Affiliated National Federations shall receive the corresponding Diploma.
Article 5: RIGHTS AND DUTIES OF MEMBER COUNTRIES
1. Member countries are entitled to:
a) Participate in Congress in accordance with statutory norms and rules;
b) Participate in official competitions in accordance with specific competition rules;
c) Enjoy the advantages and benefits provided by the WHF.
2. Under the penalty of suspension or expulsion from all international activity, it is the duty of affiliated National Federations to:
a) Renew each year its membership in accordance with the terms and conditions as set forth by the International Committee;
b) Abstain from sporting relations with organizations or physical persons not recognized by the WHF;
c) Abstain from sporting relations with National Federations or physical persons suspended from World International Competition.
3. In the cases as per letters b) and c) above, disciplinary action may be taken against affiliated National Federations.
4. Affiliated National Federations may only be expelled from the WHF through a Congress decision approved with a 2/3 majority, providing they represent at least half plus one of all affiliated National Federations entitled to vote.
Article 6: INDIVIDUALS
1. The physical persons entitled to be WHF members shall be:
a) Athletes;
b) Coaches;
c) Physicians;
d) Referees;
e) Officials;
f) All members of National Delegations that take part in International Competitions;
g) Honorary members.
Article 7: RIGHTS AND DUTIES OF INDIVIDUALS
1. Physical persons are entitled to:
a) Participate in WHF activities via respective National Federations;
b) Wear the official WHF uniform, complying with relative provisions;
c) Be put forward for elective offices and appointments providing they possess the minimum requirements.
2. Under the penalty of suspension from all international activity, it is the duty of individual members to:
a) Renew each year their membership in accordance with the terms and conditions as set forth by the International Committee;
b) Abstain from sporting relations with organizations or physical persons not recognized by the WHF;
c) Abstain from sporting relations with organizations or physical persons suspended from International Competition.
Article 8: ACCEPTANCE AND OBLIGATIONS
1. National Federations and individual persons affiliated to the WHF shall undertake to comply with Statutory norms, rules and all provisions issued by the International Committee.
2. Members shall undertake to work with the utmost loyalty and rectitude in complete compliance with the rules governing the sport, maintaining a demeanor commensurate with the activity performed.
3. Any member in breach of the conditions as per points.
Article 9: ELIGIBILITY, CANDIDATURES, INCOMPATIBILITY
1. WHF elective offices may only be held for the first time by WHF members officially put forward as candidates by the respective National Federation provided that they have a minimum of two years membership to WHF at the date of the Congress. International Committee members can personally put forward their candidacies to the IC.
2. Persons who have been classified as professionals in any sport or whose principal source of income derives from sporting activity or a related activity may not be put forward for elective offices.
3. All candidatures for elective offices must be put forward exclusively by the respective National Horting Federation (except cases referred to in letter 1) above to the WHF General Secretary – via air mail or fax – at least 1 (one) month before the date of the General Meeting.
4. The formalities as per the previous points shall also apply to outgoing members.
5. A person may be put forward for more than one office, but may only be elected or appointed for one office. It will correspond to the person holding more than one office to decide the one he is going to be in charge.
6. The validity of candidatures shall be verified by the General Secretary. Appeals against the decisions of the General Secretary may be filed within five days following the decision to the Disciplinary and Legal Affairs Committee.
7. All candidacies for elective offices must be communicated by the WHF General Secretary to affiliated National Federations at least 3 (three) weeks before the date of the Congress.
8. Elective offices and appointments are incompatible with the qualifications of Athlete, Coach and Referee. Should a person in one of these categories be elected or appointed, he must immediately give up his previous qualification for the entire duration of his term of office.
9. If an appointed member loses the support of his National Federation, the appointment will be immediately forfeited.
10. If an elected member loses the support of his National Federation, he will need to remain in his office the support of 2/3 of the International Committee and subsequently the support of 2/3 of the Congress when elections take place. When the elected member has been elected at least twice, this article cannot be applied. The member in question can present himself for reelection in the normal way.
11. The members of the International Committee cannot be appointed in the Referee Committee, Technical Committee, Medical Committee and Organizing Committee.
Article 10: WHF ORGANS
1. The organs of the WHF are:
a) The Congress;
b) The International Committee;
c) The President.
Article 11: THE CONGRESS
1. The Congress is the supreme body of the WHF, being given deliberative powers.
It shall decide only on matters included in the agenda when it is convened.
The General Secretary, at least 3 (three) months before the date of the Congress, must invite all affiliated National Federations to present the issues that they wish to include in the Congress agenda, outlining the reasons behind the request. At least two (2) months prior to the date of the Congress, the General Secretary must send the full list of presented topics to International Committee members.
The International Committee must then quickly draft the agenda so that the General Secretary may forward the agenda to all affiliated National Federations at least 3 (three) weeks prior to the date of the Congress.
2. The following are entitled to take part in the General Meeting:
a) Affiliated National Federations in possession of voting rights;
b) The International Committee;
c) The Board of Auditors;
d) The Committees;
e) The Honorary President(s) and Honorary Member(s).
Members not up to date with the payment of membership fees may not take part in the Congress. Participation in the Congress is also denied to those on whom an ongoing penalty has been inflicted.
3. National Federations affiliated in accordance with statutory norms and rules are entitled to 1 (one) vote.
Each National Federation may be represented by up to 2 (two) persons, who must be in possession of a proxy signed by the President of the National Federation, except if the delegate is the President himself. Each Federation may also have its own interpreter.
A National Federation may delegate by way of proxy as above on another to represent it. No representative may have more than 2 (two) votes, this including his own Federation's vote.
4. The Congress shall be called by the International Committee and convened by the President of the WHF, via the General Secretary, at least 3 (three) weeks before the date of the Congress, via a circular specifying the place, date and time of the Congress, the agenda and the list of affiliated National Federations in possession of voting rights at this date.
5. The Disciplinary and Legal Affairs Commission shall be responsible for monitoring powers and voting rights. Any disputes arising must be submitted to the opinion of the Congress.
6. The Congress shall be deemed valid at the first call if at least two-thirds (2/3) of affiliated National Federations in possession of voting rights are present or represented, or at the second call, an hour later, if at least half (1/2) of affiliated National Federations in possession of voting rights are present or represented.
7. The Congress shall be chaired by the WHF President or, in his absence, by the acting First Vice President or Vice President.
8. Burying the terms of Articles 26 and 27, Congress resolutions shall be valid if they represent the simple majority of votes cast at the time of voting, excluding abstentions.
For the election of International Committee and Board of Auditors offices, the simple majority shall suffice. If there is a tie in voting, a second ballot shall be held.
9. Depending on the decisions of the Congress President, voting shall be by a show of hands and recount or by roll-call, unless one quarter (1/4) of the National Federations present a request for a secret ballot. All elections must be held by secret ballot, as well as all deliberations concerning an individual member.
10. The Ordinary Meeting shall meet once a year on the occasion of the Senior World Championships in the city where these take place.
The Ordinary Meeting shall approve (or otherwise) the technical and financial report relating to the previous year's activity, drafted by the International Committee and presented by the President. This report must be accompanied by the report of the Board of Auditors on the accounting and administrative situation of the WHF. The two reports must be sent to affiliated National Federations together with the circular as per point 5) above.
The Ordinary Meeting shall also decide on other matters included in the agenda.
Also the following matters must be at least included in the agenda:
a) Affiliation of new National Federations;
b) Information on the following year's World Championships and designation of the relative organizations.
The Ordinary Meeting shall have the final say on all matters relating to horting as presented by National Federations, and on any other topic of a general nature, and it shall define the guidelines for WHF activity.
11. The Ordinary General Meeting shall elect, with separate, successive votes, via a secret ballot:
a) The President (every four years);
b) The 10 (ten) members of the International Committee (every four years);
c) The 3 (three) members of the Board of Auditors (every two years).
12. The Extraordinary General Meeting shall meet:
a) Upon the written and justified request of at least half plus one of the members of the International Committee;
b) Upon the written and justified request of at least half of affiliated National Federations in possession of voting rights. (For this the voting rights at the last General Meeting celebrated will be taken into account).
Providing it complies with the terms and procedures for the validity of Congress as set forth herein, the Extraordinary Congress may be called at the same time as an Ordinary Meeting.
The Extraordinary Congress must take place within three months of the date of the request.
The resolutions and decisions of the Extraordinary Congress shall have the same validity as those of the Ordinary Meeting.
13. The Extraordinary Congress may deal with all matters normally handled by the Ordinary Meeting, and in addition it may decide on proposals to dissolve the WHF.
14. The President of the Congress shall decide on the number and duration of addresses granted to participants.
Article 12: INTERNATIONAL COMMITTEE
1. The International Committee shall be composed of the President and 10 (ten) members.
2. The International Committee shall be in power for a four-year term of office, and may be re-elected indefinitely.
3. In its first meeting, to take place no later than forty-eight (48) hours after being elected, the International Committee shall appoint from among its members, the Acting (First) Vice President, 2 (two) Vice Presidents, the General Secretary, the Assistant General Secretary, the General Treasurer, the Assistant General Treasurer.
4. Providing the provisions of article 9 herein are complied with, former WHF Presidents shall by rights be fully-fledged life members of the Committee. They will be awarded the title of Honorary President.
5. The International Committee shall direct and administer WHF activity, draw up a program in accordance with the directives approved by the Congress and see that they are enacted in order to achieve institutional goals.
In particular, it shall:
a) Call Congress, establishing the relative agenda;
b) Draft the technical and financial report on the previous year's activity, to be submitted to the approval of Congress;
c) Approve the budget, relative changes and the final balance sheet, to be submitted to the approval of Congress;
d) Decide upon the provisional affiliation of National Federations, to be submitted to Congress ratification;
e) Approve and amend rules;
f) Confer and revoke appointments;
g) Administer available funds;
h) Monitor compliance with the WHF Statute, Rules and issued norms;
i) Issue provisions pertaining to affiliations and membership;
j) Decide upon the amounts of fees and charges;
k) Designate the Honorary President and Honorary Members, to be proposed to Congress;
l) Grant amnesties and pardons and establish the limits of these measures;
m) Consider urgent provisions issued by the President;
n) Decide upon other matters included in the agenda.
6. The International Committee shall be convened by the President at least twice a year in an ordinary session or, at the written and justified request of the majority of its members, in an extraordinary session.
7. Meeting shall be deemed valid if the majority of Committee members are in attendance. Decisions shall be taken on a simple majority basis. In the event of a tie in voting, the President or acting chairman shall have the casting vote. No proxies are allowed.
8. If the technical and financial report is not approved by the Congress (in the event of a tie in voting, the report shall be deemed to be approved), the President and the entire International Committee shall cease to hold power. They shall however continue to carry out ordinary administration until the Extraordinary Congress, to be held within 3 (three) months in compliance with the terms and procedures pertaining to the validity of Congress as set forth herein.
9. If for any reason a position should become vacant in the International Committee, the Committee may proceed to a co-opted member in accordance with the terms of article 9 herein. The co-opted member shall remain in office until the following Congress, when regular elections shall be held.
10. International Committee meetings shall also be attended by the Chairmen of the permanent Commissions (without voting rights) for matters directly concerning them at the request of the International Committee.
Article 13: THE PRESIDENT
1. The President shall represent the WHF in relations with outside parties.
2. He shall be responsible for the running of the WHF and answer to the Congress and the International Committee.
3. He shall convene and chair the International Committee, after having drafted the relative Agenda, and shall monitor the implementation of approved resolutions.
4. He shall convene and chair the Congress, barring exceptions expressly specified herein.
5. In emergency situations, the President may take decisions normally attributed to the International Committee. These decisions shall however be submitted to the ratification of the International Committee in its subsequent meeting.
6. In the event of a temporary absence, the President may delegate some or all of his powers to the Acting Vice President.
7. In the event of the President's resignation or permanent absence, his powers and title shall be taken up by the Acting Vice President until the Congress where general elections take place, to be convened and held in accordance with the terms and procedures for the validity of Congress as set forth herein.
In the event of the absence of the Acting Vice President, the other Vice President shall take his place according to the principle of seniority.
Article 14: VICE PRESIDENTS
1. The International Committee, in its first meeting after the elections, shall appoint from among its Members the First Vice President or Acting Vice President and 2 (two) other Vice Presidents.
2. The Vice Presidents shall provide the President with assistance for all his functions and shall replace him upon the occasions as set forth herein in accordance with the relative procedures.
3. The International Committee may assign special tasks to the Vice Presidents providing they are not in contrast with the provisions herein.
Article 15: SECRETARY GENERAL
1. The International Committee, in its first meeting, after the elections, shall appoint from among its members the Secretary General.
2. The Secretary General is in charge of the secretariat work and relations with the National Federations, as well as with third parties.
Article 16: ASSISTANT SECRETARY GENERAL
The International Committee, in its first meeting, after the elections, shall appoint from among its members the Assistant Secretary General.
Article 17: GENERAL TREASURER
The International Committee, in its first meeting, after the elections, shall appoint from among its members the General Treasurer.
Article 18: ASSISTANT GENERAL TREASURER
The International Committee, in its first meeting, after the elections, shall appoint from among its members the Assistant General Treasurer.
Article 19: THE BOARD OF AUDITORS
1. The Board of Auditors shall be made up of 3 (three) Members elected by the Congress, and shall hold office for a period of 2 (two) years.
2. In their first meeting the 3 (three) Members shall elect their Chairman.
3. The 3 (three) Members of the Board of Auditors may not hold elective offices or appointments in the WHF and cannot be members of the International Committee, as well as have different nationality of IC members.
4. The Board of Auditors must be invited to report to Congress and to International Committee meetings.
5. Former IC members will not be eligible for the Board of Auditors until a period of 2 (two) years has passed since they left the IC.
Article 20: PERMANENT COMMITTEES
1. Disciplinary and Legal Affairs Committee.
2. Financial Committee.
3. Medical Committee.
4. Organizing Committee.
5. Public Relations and Protocol Committee.
6. Referee Committee.
7. Technical Committee.
Article 21: RULES AND REGULATIONS
1. In accordance with the provisions of Art. 12, point 5, letter e), and to further the aims of the WHF, the International Committee shall approve and amend Rules and Regulations.
2. The Permanent Committees as per Art. 20 above shall help to prepare the Rules and Regulations in their own sphere of action.
3. All Rules and Regulations must be in accordance with the herein Statutes.
Article 22: HONORARY PRESIDENT AND HONORARY MEMBERS
1. Based upon a proposal of the International Committee, the Ordinary Meeting shall elect the Honorary President and Honorary Members by acclamation. They shall be chosen among members of the WHF who, with selfless commitment, have made a significant contribution to the spread of horting in the World and acquired special merits within the WHF.
2. The Honorary President is entitled to attend, without voting rights, Congress and International Committee meetings.
3. The Honorary President and Honorary Members shall make up the WHF Honorary Committee. They shall be given the corresponding membership card and a special Diploma.
Article 23: PRIZES AND REWARDS
1. The Star for Sporting Merit has been created with a view to honoring National Federations and individuals who have distinguished themselves through the performance of activities to popularize and improve the sport of horting.
2. There are 3 (three) types of Stars for Sporting Merit:
a) Gold: For National Federations and individuals who have worked for the good of horting for at least 20 (twenty) years, for the Honorary President and Honorary Members;
b) Silver: For National Federations and individuals who have worked for the good of horting for at least 15 (fifteen) years;
c) Bronze: For National Federations and individuals who have worked for the good of horting for at least 10 (ten) years.
3. The Stars for Sporting Merit are accompanied by the corresponding Diploma and, for individuals, by a special membership card and a badge.
Article 24: RANK GRADES
1. The WHF shall only recognize Rank Grades conferred officially to their members by affiliated National Federations.
2. A Federation may not confer a Rank Grade to a member of another Federation without the consent of the latter. If consent is given, the Rank Grade shall also be recognized by the WHF.
3. Recognition of the Rank Grade shall be accompanied by the awarding of the corresponding Diploma.
Article 25: PRINCIPLES OF SPORTING JUSTICE
1. Sporting Justice must uphold the norms contained in the Statute and in the Rules, ensure that the concept of "fairplay" is adhered to by all and do all in its power to combat "unsportsmanlike behavior", the use of banned substances, physical and verbal violence and corruption.
2. Disciplinary action taken by sporting authorities may be contested, the right to defend one's position shall be safeguarded and passed judgments may be reversed.
3. The Disciplinary and Legal Affairs Committee may take the following disciplinary action against Federations and physical persons:
a) Warning;
b) Disapproval;
c) Suspension;
d) Disqualification for up to five (5) years;
e) Expulsion.
The expulsion of affiliated National Federations must be ratified by the Congress, as set forth in Art. 5, point 4) of these statutes.
4. Disciplinary action may be accompanied by fines.
The International Committee may award amnesties and revisions.
Article 26: AMENDMENTS TO THE STATUTES
1. Proposals to amend the Statutes may be put forward by the International Committee or by affiliated National Federations having voting rights. In the case of National Federations, proposals must be presented to the International Committee by at least half plus one of all affiliated National Federations having voting rights.
2. Proposals to amend the Statutes must be approved by at least 2/3 (two thirds) of affiliated National Federations having voting rights present and represented at the Congress.
Article 27: DISSOLUTION
1. The proposal to dissolve the WHF must be presented to the WHF by at least 2/3 (two-thirds) of affiliated National Federations having voting rights.
2. The International Committee shall then call the relative Extraordinary Congress in compliance with the procedures as set forth herein.
3. The proposal to dissolve the WHF must be approved at the Extraordinary Congress by at least 4/5 (four-fifths) of affiliated National Federations having voting rights.
4. Should the WHF be dissolved, its assets must be divided among affiliated National Federations having voting rights in proportion to the number of years that each Federation has been affiliated.
Article 28: FINAL PROVISIONS
1. The WHF, that elections in the 5 (five) Continental Unions, be held the year after the Olympic Games.
2. Therefore WHF elections will take place for all offices in the Congress of 2029.
These statutes shall take effect and approved by the WHF Congress on October 10th, 2025.