Het Comité has managed an internationally recognised arbitration institute since 1896. Should there be an unresolved collision of interests or difference of opinion between two parties, Het Comité may be requested to appoint independent arbitrators. The arbitrators are members of the association and are elected every year by member ballots. The course of arbitration in the first instance usually follows the pattern outlined hereunder:

1) You send us a written petition for arbitration, naming product, nature of dispute, vital details of the respondent and value of dispute (if possible) and you state that you are simultaneously informing the respondent of your arbitration petition.

2) Your petition is allocated a reference number and we request a deposit remittance. Thereupon, we invite you to elaborate on the issue by forwarding your statement of claim six-fold.

3) Upon receipt of the deposit and your statement of claim, we notify the respondent, enclosing a copy of your arguments and request an elaborate rebuttal, again six-fold.

4) A date for an arbitration hearing may be determined prior to receipt of the rebuttal.

5) Het Comité now appoints three arbitrators.

6) Under registered cover both parties are requested to attend the set arbitration hearing. At this time the claimant receives a copy of the rebuttal.

7) The respondent may lodge a counterclaim prior to commencement of the set hearing. This, however, is subject to the remittance of a deposit.

8) An award is granted subsequent to the arbitration hearing.

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