Terms & Conditions

Terms and Conditions of RIS

1.General

1.1 Unless otherwise specifically and expressly agreed in writing by RichForth Inspection Service INC (hereinafter called “RIS”), all services provided by RIS are governed by the following general conditions of service.

1.2 Services carried out by RIS, on behalf of an entity or individual from whom the instructions to act have originated (hereinafter called the “Principal”) will be carried out by using techniques and processes that permit an independent, impartial and objective approach. The end result of the Service will consist in a certificate or document (hereinafter called the “Report”) communicating the collection of information RIS has been requested to supply and will be delivered as a report.

1.3 No other party than the Principal shall be entitled to give instructions to RIS, particularly on the scope of inspection or delivery of Report, unless so authorized by the Principal.

2. Provision of services

2.1 RIS is a completely independent third party, supplies information in the form of ascertainment or recommendations for the special purpose of contributing to the prevention of the risks to which the beneficiaries of its services are exposed, and of helping them assure the quality of their products. RIS’s services (hereinafter called the “Services”) consist of work performed by RIS, including but not limited to:

• In-production inspection
• Pre-shipment inspection
• Container loading supervision
• Factory audit
• Social accountability audit
• Quality engineering support

3. RIS’s obligations and undertakings

3.1 RIS expressly reserves the right to act at its own discretion in accepting or declining a request for service, and cannot be compelled to accept or be held liable for declining a request for services:

Falling out of its scope of activity or specialty;

Presenting geographical accessibility problems, such as services to be rendered or products to be found in restricted or highly remote areas;

Requiring RIS to obtain special permissions to operate such as governmental permissions;

3.2. RIS undertakes to supply the Services it has accepted to carry out in a professional and timely manner, in accordance with proper professional practice and in compliance with the Principal’s special instructions when ordering the Service and as confirmed by RIS

3.3. RIS shall exerRISe due care and skill in the selection and assignment of its personnel.

4. Principal’s obligations and undertakings

The Principal agrees:

4.1 To take all reasonable steps to assure RIS has access to the site and materials on which Service will be based on;

4.2 To provide RIS with all information and samples, as well as the documents necessary to complete requested Service, in a timely manner (and in any event not later than 48 hours prior to the desired intervention), except for generally available documents such as codes and standards, either directly or through suppliers or agents of the Principal;

4.3 To insure that adequate instructions and notice are given to RIS in due time to facilitate proper performance for the Service requested ;

4.4 To advise RIS of the date on which the Services are to commence, or to be resumed, and also of essential dates affecting the item(s) for which Services are being rendered;

4.5 Generally to render all reasonable assistance to RIS in providing necessary instructions, information, documents, safety and security information in connection with the working conditions, required equipment and access (as the case may be).

4.6 Documents reflecting engagements between the Principal and third parties or third parties’ documents – if received by RIS – are considered to be for information only and do not extend or restrict the scope of the services or obligations accepted by RIS.

5. Invoicing, fees and payment

5.1 Unless otherwise agreed invoices for Services performed by RIS are payable immediately upon receipt, each party bearing its own bank charges. Late payment will incur an interest charge at 1.5% per month, or fraction thereof.

5.2 Cancellation charges: we accept cancellation 3 working days before the projected Inspection date. Otherwise, we will charge USD115.00 for the loss of planned resources (For example, if the inspection date is Nov.23.2007 and will be cancelled, RIS should be informed on Nov.19.2007 of this cancellation.).

RIS advises its clients to then re-charge this cost to their factory when the factory is proved to be mistaken.

5.3 In the event that RIS is being prevented from performing or completing in full requested Services, for any reason beyond its control, such as but not limited to, wrong information given by Client or Factory (e.g. goods not ready for Inspection despite information given by Factory), the Principal agrees to:

5.3.1 Reimburse any expenditure, and out of pocket expenses made or incurred in relation to this Service;

5.3.2 Pay proportion of fees due for Services actually rendered and to release RIS from all responsibility for partial or non-performance of the Services.

5.4 In the event when the Inspection must be cancelled on the projected Inspection day, because of wrong information given by Client or Factory (e.g. goods not ready for Inspection despite information given by Factory,…), the man-day will be considered spent, and RIS will charge full fee to Client as a ‘missed Inspection’ fee. RIS advises its clients to then re-charge this cost to their factory when the factory is proved to be mistaken.

6. Liability and indemnification

6.1 Limitation of liability

6.1.1 RIS is neither an insurer nor a guarantor and disclaims such capacity. Clients seeking a guarantee against loss or damage should obtain appropriate insurance.

6.1.2 Subject to the Principal instructions as accepted by RIS (as specified in the terms of reference), RIS will issue the Report relating to the facts as recorded by it within the limits of the instructions received and on the basis of the documents and information provided by the Principal, but RIS is under no obligation to report upon any facts or circumstances which are outside the specific scope of its assignment.

6.1.3 RIS advice is given only in relation to documents and information provided by the Principal, and RIS cannot be held liable if it has received incomplete or erroneous information.

6.1.4 In the event of false information being given to RIS by a third party, RIS accepts no liability.

6.1.5 RIS undertakes to use its best efforts and to exerRISe due care and skill in the performance of its Services, and accepts liability only in case of negligence proven by the Principal.

6.2 Indemnification

6.2.1 In the event of RIS being held liable in respect of any claim for loss, damage or expense of whatsoever nature and however arising, its liability to the Principal shall in no circumstances exceed ten times the total aggregate sum of fees paid for the specific Services for which a claim is made.

6.2.2 In addition, in case of the Service of pre-shipment inspections:

Where less than 100% of the production is complete, our responsibility will only extend to those items completed at the time of inspection;

The Report does not evidence shipment.

6.2.3 The Principal shall guarantee and indemnify RIS and its servants, agents or subcontractors against all claims made by third parties for loss, damage or expense of whatsoever nature arising, relating to the performance or non-performance of any service, to the extent that the total sum of such claims exceed the limitation of liability mentioned in Article 6.2.1.

6.3 In the event of any claim, notice must be given to RIS within seven days following discovery of the facts, or three months from the completion of the RIS Service.

7. Termination of services

RIS shall be entitled to automatically either terminate and/or suspend provision of services in the event that:

7.1 The Principal commits any material breach of its obligations under these terms and conditions and/or the terms of reference and (if such breach shall be capable of remedy) fails to make good such breach within ten (10) days of receipt of notice served by the Non-Defaulting Party (RIS) requiring it so to do. Material breaches include, without limitation any willful and deliberate breach by the Principal of its obligations this Agreement;

7.2 The principal is insolvent or unable to pay its debts, in suspension of payments, or convenes a meeting of or compounds with its creditors or has a receiving order made against it or (other than for the purposes of bona fide amalgamation or reconstruction) has an order made or a resolution passed for its winding up or for the appointment of an administrator to manage its affairs, business and property or has a receiver or administrative receiver appointed over any of its assets or undertaking or if RIS takes or suffers any similar or analogous action in consequence of debt.

8. Miscellaneous

8.1 RIS, and/or its subsidiaries and/or affiliates and the Principal undertake not to divulge to any third party confidential information obtained from the other party regarding the execution of RIS Services.

8.2 The Report will reflect findings of the Service at the time and place of Service. This Report does not discharge sellers and suppliers from their legal and/or commercial obligations towards the Principal.

9. Applicable and Governing law, Jurisdiction and settlement of dispute

9.1 Unless otherwise provided, these terms and conditions shall be governed by and construed in accordance with China Arbitration Terms

9.2 All disputes or differences of any kind whatsoever between the parties in connection with or arising out of the services shall be submitted to the non exclusive jurisdiction of the China Arbitration.

10. Language

These terms and conditions have been drafted in English. In case of discrepancy, the English version shall be controlled for all purposes.