Noon International

SAFE FOOD. HEALTHY FAMILIES. LONG LIFE.

OUR COMPANY

First and foremost, we are here to serve you. As global trading specialists in Asia and the Pacific Rim, North and South America, and Europe, we offer expertise and experience in trading frozen, canned, freeze-dried and shelf-stable fruits and vegetables. Our goal is simple: bring buyer and seller together and provide extraordinary service and competitive pricing so that each transaction is worry-free and profitable for both parties. One-sided profits do not make good business and we are looking for long and lasting relationships with our customers and suppliers.
 
For over forty years, Noon International has actively traded in food and food-related products worldwide. Anyone wanting to establish long-term and profitable trade with China for example, must spend an inordinate amount of time building such trusted relationships known as “guanxi.” Our relationships provide a network of suppliers and customers for safe, healthy food products in bulk, retail and food service applications that will meet FSMA requirements. We consider the value of this “priceless” and invite you to join us now and become part of this valuable safe food network serving buyers and sellers alike in the food industry.
 
Over the years, the food industry has matured and buyers and sellers alike now have easy access to world markets. The power of technology and the Internet has made the world a much smaller place and general manufacturing processes and company infrastructures are visible to all. In this “transparent” environment, success belongs to the industry leaders (both large and small) throughout the world whose company philosophies support their core business. 
 
Our Business Strategy Is Your Competitive Edge
Trading in the healthy, safe food business is a two-way process that requires us to act as both buyer and seller depending on the particular transaction. For example, if you want to export your products to the U.S. market and have no contacts or experience here, our team of import experts will provide extensive marketing, sales, support and service minimizing the cost and time spent by your company. This is a critical component when it comes to meeting the new requirements of the FSVP (Foreign Supplier Verification Program). In order to meet the new FSMA guidelines, whoever you sell to in the USA is responsible for your verification as a foreign supplier. We will take care of your verification.
 
On the other side, if you’re a North American producer and want to export your food products to South and Central America, Asia and South East Asia, Australia, Europe or New Zealand, our export division is your main contact. Utilizing the experience of experts saves your company time and money and allows access to our worldwide database of approved food buyers and sellers. Understanding your business and marketing needs is essential – including logistics and shipping, product procurement, documentation, regulatory and label requirements, packaging design, consulting services, knowledge in all areas of food safety with particular emphasis on the new FSMA guidelines. 
 
This is a time of social responsibility, when all parties involved in the food chain must be accountable for their actions and products. FSMA has and will continue to rapidly change our industry and those who are not compliant will fail. At Noon International, we are dedicated to assisting our global suppliers, importers and exporters to meet the latest FSMA requirements for seamless international transactions. Customers today expect safe and healthy food and Noon International delivers this promise through our worldwide network of trustworthy and quality partners. 
 
As one of America’s oldest food importers and exporters serving buyers and sellers of the food industry worldwide since 1976, we are dedicated to improving and extending the lives of people throughout the world by providing safe and healthy food – a vision that is shared by Noon’s owners, shareholders, all employees and our local and global business partners. Please partner with us today!

OUR SERVICES

Sales & Sourcing – Knowing How and When to Buy

We offer spot business or contractual pricing.  Knowing when to buy allows us to secure top-quality products at best pricing levels.
Evaluation of your product for intended market.
Screening of potential customers and distributors to handle your products.
Assistance in establishing competitive pricing in target markets.
Negotiate workable terms and pricing and secure orders.
Source hundreds of competitively priced products for you through our extensive approved network of safe food suppliers.
Design your label and packaging according to foreign requirements with package translation and specialized packaging sizes and requirements.
Arrange product testing and pre-shipment verification to meet FSMA requirements.

Marketing

Expand your customer base through private-label branding.  For ideas on how to expand your product line and increase customer loyalty, read our report on Private Label Branding at www.noonfoodnetwork.com/Marketing. 
Cultural product adaptation including flavor profiling for easy market access.
Online and offline marketing strategies.
Specialized product request – we are continually looking for and finding new products for niche markets including organic, sustainable and super-healthy foods.  \
Full communication in your native language including English, Japanese, Mandarin and Spanish.

Market Surveillance & Intelligence/FSMA Compliance

We demystify the FSMA (Food Safety Modernization Act) for importers and exporters.
How to bring your company and plants into FSMA compliance.
Reports on latest government and country regulations.
FDA Updates that pertain to this industry.
Weekly Global Crop Reports – go to www.noonfoodnetwork.com/FoodReport. 
Growing Cycle Charts (U.S. & Worldwide).
Traceability, Pesticide Residue Analysis, Shelf Life, Pathogens.
Quality Control Expertise:  sanitation, plant inspections, source reliability reports, micro analysis, foreign material and product specifications.

Logistics & Shipping

Arrange all inland rail or truck transport, ocean freight and delivery to point of export or final destination with appropriate documentation handling plan.
Documentation checklist will be provided to enable you to review all requirements carefully prior to shipment so process of import/export moves smoothly.
Introduce and utilize our reliable and long-term customs broker network for import/export procedures.
Latest updates on government regulations, import/export requirements and restrictions, product certification and regulatory controls by country.
Storage and distribution services.

Consulting Services

Our newest division includes one-on-one consultation with food buyers and sellers throughout the world who want access to the North American market or wish to source products from North America.  The Food Service Modernization Act (FSMA) has dramatically changed the requirements for both importers and exporters alike and compliance with these regulations is now mandatory.  If you currently export products to the USA or you are an importer of record, we can assist you with compliance services that can be integrated in accordance with your company’s requirements. 

Products

Check with Sales for Organic and Conventional availability.

FOOD SAFETY

 
The top thing on everyone’s mind these days is FSMA compliance. It’s a fact. If you are involved in the sale or import of foods in the United States, you must be in compliance with the required FDA’s FSMA (Food Safety Modernization Act). This regulation is complex and includes rules and related programs, guidance documents, training and technical assistance, compliance and implementation tools and more. It is important that you understand your responsibility with regard to these new regulations.
 
Need more clarification? We’ve prepared a FREE REPORT for you! 
 
DEMYSTIFYING FSMA REGULATIONS
 
Just fill in the quick form below to receive your report.

NAVIGATING THE NEW FSMA & FSVP REGULATIONS

 
The information in this report is for your benefit and perusal and does not constitute legal advice. You can visit FDA’s FSMA website to get official information and also sign up to receive alerts directly from FDA.
 
If you require official interpretations of the FDA rules or If you have scientific and technical questions (for example about hazard analysis or testing methodology) you can submit your inquiry directly to FDA’s Technical Assistance Network (TAN).

FSMA GUIDELINES IN A NUTSHELL

 
The Preventive Controls for Human Food (PCHF) regulation, often referred to as FSMA - Food Safety Modernization Act, is the first major overhaul of our nation’s food safety practices since 1938. This law has been enacted to ensure the safe preparation of food products for human consumption in the United States. It includes new regulations for farms that grow fresh produce (fruits and vegetables), for the facilities that process the food that we eat, and for the many points in the global supply chain for human and animal food. 
 
Congress enacted FSMA in response to the dramatic changes in the global food system and FDA has now finalized seven major rules for its implementation that anyone involved in the human food chain production must adhere to.
 
If you are involved in the sale or import of foods in the United States, you must be aware of the compliance now required by FDA’s FSMA (Food Safety Modernization Act). This regulation is complex and includes rules and related programs, guidance documents, training and technical assistance, compliance and implementation tools and more! It is important that you understand your responsibility with regard to these new regulations if:
 
1. you import food into the United States from foreign suppliers,
2. you are a foreign manufacturing facility and export food products to the U.S.A.,
3. you produce food here in the USA,
4. you are part of the global supply chain – product packaging, transport, logistics, etc.
 
WHAT IS FSVP? (Foreign Supplier Verification Program)
 
You are considered an FSVP importer if you are the U.S. owner or consignee of the food being offered for import (you own the food, have purchased it, or have agreed in writing to purchase at the time of entry into the United States). If there is no U.S. owner or consignee at the time of entry, the FSVP importer is the U.S. agent/representative of the foreign owner/consignee as confirmed in a signed statement of consent. The important thing is that there be an FSVP importer into the United States who takes responsibility for meeting the FSVP requirements.
 
The final rule requires that importers perform certain risk-based activities to verify that food imported into the United States has been produced in a manner that meets applicable U.S. safety standards. It is a program that importers, covered by the rule, must have in place to verify that their foreign suppliers are producing food in a manner that provides the same level of public health protection as the preventive controls or produce safety regulations, as appropriate, to ensure that the supplier’s food is not adulterated or misbranded with respect to allergen labeling. 
 
Deadline: The FDA FSMA rule on Foreign Supplier Verification Programs (for importers of food for humans and animals) is final and the first compliance dates began on May 30, 2017. 
 
PCQI (Preventive Controls Qualified Individual)
“The FSMA requires that certain activities be done by a PCQI who has successfully completed training in the development and application of risk-based preventive controls at least equivalent to that received under a standardized curriculum recognized as adequate by FDA or is otherwise qualified through job experience to develop and apply a food safety system.”
 
PCQI is required to oversee and perform:
 
1. Preparation of the Food Safety Plan
2. Validate the Preventive Controls
3. Review the Records
4. Re-Analyze the Food Safety Plan and other activities as appropriate to the food.
 
Need more clarification? We’ve prepared a FREE REPORT for you: 
 
DEMYSTIFYING FSMA REGULATIONS
 
Just fill in the quick form below to receive your report.

Responsibilities of Importers:

Determining known or reasonably foreseeable hazards with each food.
Evaluating the risk posed by a food, based on the hazard analysis and the foreign supplier’s performance.
Using that evaluation of the risk posed by an imported food and the supplier’s performance to approve suppliers and determine appropriate supplier verification activities.
Conducting supplier verification activities.
Conducting corrective action.
Importers must establish and follow written procedures to ensure that they import foods only from foreign suppliers approved based on an evaluation of the risk posed by the imported food and the supplier’s performance, or when necessary on a temporary basis, from unapproved suppliers whose foods are subjected to adequate verification activities before being imported.
Importers are required to develop, maintain and follow an FSVP (Foreign Supplier Verification Program) for each food brought into the United States and the foreign supplier of that food.  If the importer obtains a certain food from a few different suppliers, a separate FSVP would be required for each of these suppliers.  Similarly, if the importer obtains many different foods from a single supplier, a separate FSVP would be required for each food.
Certain importers that are also manufacturers/processors are deemed in compliance with most FSVP requirements if they are in compliance with the supply-chain programs requirements under the preventive controls rule; if they implement preventive controls for the hazards in the food in accordance with the requirements in the preventive controls rules; or they are not required to implement preventive controls under those rules in certain specified circumstances.  Examples of such circumstances include when the type of food (e.g. Coffee bean) could not be consumed without the application of a preventive control, or when the customer will be significantly minimizing or preventing identified hazards) as they comply with requirements for disclosures and written assurances.
The evaluation of the risk posed by the imported food and the supplier’s performance must be re-evaluated at least every three years, or when new information comes to light about a potential hazard or the foreign supplier’s performance.
 Importers are not required to evaluate the food and supplier or conduct supplier verification activities if they receive adequate assurances that a subsequent entity in the distribution chain, such as the importer’s customer, is processing the food for food safety in accordance with applicable requirements.  FDA has extended the compliance date for receiving these written assurances for two years.  However, as required by the final rule, importers must disclose in documents accompanying the food, that the food is not processed to control the identified hazard.
Hazard Analysis
 
What do we mean by "hazard?" An importer is required to identify and evaluate — based on experience, illness data, scientific reports and other information — the known or reasonably foreseeable hazards for each type of food it imports to determine if there are any hazards requiring a control. These include: 
Biological hazards, including parasites and disease-causing bacteria.
Chemical hazards, including radiological hazards, pesticide and drug residues, natural toxins, food decomposition, unapproved food or color additives, and food allergens.
Physical hazards, such as glass.
They may be hazards reasonably likely to cause illness or injury that occur naturally, are unintentionally introduced, or are intentionally introduced for purposes of economic gain, such as substituting a less costly ingredient.
 
The analysis must assess the probability that these hazards will occur in the absence of controls and the severity of the illness or injury that could occur.
 
The evaluation would have to consider factors that include the:
Formulation of the food.
Condition, function and design of the establishment and equipment of a typical entity that produces the food.
Raw materials and other ingredients.
Transportation practices.
Harvesting, raising, manufacturing, processing and packing procedures.
Packaging and labeling activities.
Storage and distribution.
Intended or reasonably foreseeable use.
Sanitation, including employee hygiene.
An importer can rely on another entity to conduct the hazard analysis, so long as the importer reviews and assesses the relevant documentation.
 
3. Evaluation of Food Risk and Supplier Performance 
 
What evaluation must be done of the risk posed by an imported food and a supplier’s performance? An importer must evaluate: 
The hazard analysis.  
The entity that will be significantly minimizing or preventing the hazards, such as the foreign supplier or the supplier’s raw material or ingredient supplier.
A foreign supplier’s procedures, processes and practices related to the safety of food.  
Applicable FDA food safety regulations, and information regarding the foreign supplier’s compliance. 
The foreign supplier’s food safety history, including the responsiveness of the foreign supplier in correcting past problems. 
Other factors as necessary, including storage and transportation practices.
4. Supplier Verification 
 
What supplier verification activities must be conducted? Based upon the evaluation of risk conducted, the importer must establish and follow written procedures to ensure, in most instances, that it only imports from approved foreign suppliers and must conduct appropriate supplier verification activities.
 
Importers have the flexibility to tailor supplier verification activities to unique food risks and supplier characteristics. The options include:
Annual on-site audits of the supplier’s facility. This is generally required when there is a reasonable probability that exposure to a hazard controlled by the foreign supplier will result in serious adverse health consequences or death to humans or animals (called a SAHCODHA hazard). However, the importer can choose another means of verification provided that the importer documents that the alternate choice is appropriate and provides adequate assurances that the foreign supplier is producing the food in accordance with applicable U.S. safety standards. 
Sampling and testing. 
A review of the supplier’s relevant food safety records.
An importer can rely on another entity (other than the foreign supplier) to determine and perform appropriate supplier verification activities, so long as the importer reviews and assesses the relevant documentation.
5. Corrective Actions
What if something goes wrong? Importers must promptly take appropriate corrective actions if they determine that a foreign supplier has not used processes and procedures that provide the same level of public health protection as required under the produce safety and preventive controls regulations, as applicable, or that the supplier produces food that is adulterated or misbranded with respect to allergen labeling. 
The appropriate corrective measure will depend on the circumstances, but could include discontinuing use of the foreign supplier until the cause of noncompliance, adulteration or misbranding has been adequately addressed.
6. Exemptions and Modified Standards 
The requirements for dietary supplements vary according to a number of factors, including whether the import is a finished product or an ingredient/component.
Importers who establish and verify compliance with certain specifications (concerning dietary supplement components and packaging) required under the separate, pre-existing dietary supplement Current Good Manufacturing Practices (CGMP) regulation. will not be required to comply with most of the standard FSVP requirements.  
The same would apply to importers whose customer is required to establish such specifications and verify that they are met, except that the importer would have to obtain written assurance that its customer is complying with those requirements.  
Importers of other dietary supplements, including finished products, would be required to comply with most of the standard FSVP requirements (except the hazard analysis requirement), but their verification activities would focus on compliance with the dietary supplement CGMP regulations.
Modified FSVP requirements are established for very small importers and importers of food from certain small suppliers. (An example of these modified requirements is that certain importers would not have to conduct hazard analyses and would be able to verify their foreign suppliers by obtaining written assurances from their supplier.) 
The definition of very small importer is consistent with the definition of very small business in the preventive controls rules: $1 million for human food and $2.5 million for animal food of annual sales (averaged over three year period) combined with the U.S. market value of food that is imported, manufactured, processed, packed, or held without sale (e.g., imported for a fee).
 
Importers of certain small foreign suppliers are subject to modified FSVP requirements. Those small suppliers are: 
Facilities subject to modified requirements under the preventive controls rules because they are qualified facilities.
Farms that are not covered farms under the produce safety rule because they average $25,000 or less in annual produce sales or because they meet requirements for a qualified exemption.
Shell egg producers with fewer than 3,000 laying hens.
Each of these types of producers is either exempt from their underlying FDA food safety regulations or subject to modified requirements, mostly, and in some cases entirely, because of the size of these firms.
There are modified requirements for certain foods from a foreign supplier in a country whose food safety system has been recognized as comparable or determined to be the equivalent of the United States’ system.
Additionally, certain categories of imported food are not covered by FSVP. These include: 
- Juice, fish, and fishery products subject to and in compliance with FDA’s Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) regulations for those products, and certain ingredients for use in juice and fish and fishery products subject to the HACCP regulations.
- Food for research or evaluation. 
- Food for personal consumption.
- Alcoholic beverages and certain ingredients for use in alcoholic beverages.
- Food that is imported for processing and future export.
- Low-acid canned foods (LACF), such as canned vegetables, but only with respect to microbiological hazards covered by other regulations, as well as certain ingredients for use in LACF products (but only with respect to microbiological hazards).
- Certain meat, poultry and egg products regulated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture at the time of importation.
 
7. Unique Facility Identifier
The final FSVP rule requires that an importer provide its name, electronic mail address, and unique facility identifier (UFI) recognized as acceptable by the FDA for each line entry of food product offered for importation into the United States.
The FDA has recognized the Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number as an acceptable UFI for FSVP.
DUNS numbers, assigned and managed by DUN & Bradstreet, are available free of charge to importers by visiting FDAdunslookup.com.
The FDA has also issued guidance stating that for FSVP importers temporarily unable to obtain a DUNS number, FDA intends to temporarily allow filers to transmit the value “UNK” (to represent “unknown”) in the UFI field. This option will be available beginning May 30, 2017 so that food offered for import can be processed through the Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) system, even if the importer has not yet provided a DUNS number.
COMPLIANCE DATES
 
The date by which importers must comply with the FSVP regulations is the latest of the following dates:
May 30, 2017
For the importation of food from a supplier that is subject to the preventive controls or produce safety rules, six months after the foreign supplier is required to meet the relevant regulations;
For an importer that is itself a manufacturer or processor subject to the supply-chain program provisions in the preventive controls regulations, the date by which it has to comply with those provisions. A range of compliance dates were established in the preventive controls rules for the supply-chain program provisions, which vary based on the size of the receiving facility and when the receiving facility’s supplier is required to comply with the new FSMA regulations.
Additional Resources
 
The FDA has developed and continues to develop several guidance documents on subjects that include:
Draft Guidance for Industry: Describing a Hazard that Needs Control in Documents Accompanying the Food, as Required by Four Rules Implementing FSMA  
Training and Technical Assistance: The FDA has established the FSMA Food Safety Technical Assistance Network, to provide a central source of information to support industry understanding and implementation of FSMA.
FSVP Fact Sheet - https://www.fda.gov/downloads/Food/GuidanceRegulation/FSMA/UCM472890.pdf 
Am I subject to FSVP?
 https://www.fda.gov/downloads/Food/GuidanceRegulation/FSMA/UCM472461.pdf  
FSVP Compliance Dates: https://www.fda.gov/Food/GuidanceRegulation/FSMA/ucm503822.html 
Need more clarification? We’ve prepared a FREE REPORT for you 
 
DEMYSTIFYING FSMA REGULATIONS
 
Just fill in the quick form below to receive your report.

Contact

If you are looking for a way to minimize your costs and need a company to source or sell frozen vegetables, fruits and prepared foods, please contact us. We're a little old-fashioned and we'd like to get to know you before doing business. Please send us an email and tell us about your company and what you're looking for. You can be sure we will respond immediately!

Noon International
5506 6th Ave. S. Suite 101
Seattle, WA 98108 U.S.A.

+ 1 (206) 283-8400

info@noon-intl.com

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•	advertises any commercial endeavor (e.g., offering for sale products or services) or otherwise engages in any commercial activity (e.g., conducting raffles or contests, displaying sponsorship banners, and/or soliciting goods or services) except as may be specifically authorized on this site;
•	solicits funds, advertisers or sponsors;
•	includes programs which contain viruses, worms and/or Trojan horses or any other computer code, files or programs designed to interrupt, destroy or limit the functionality of any computer software or hardware or telecommunications;
•	disrupts the normal flow of dialogue, causes a screen to scroll faster than other users are able to type, or otherwise act in a way which affects the ability of other people to engage in real time activities via this site;
•	includes MP3 format files;
•	amounts to a ‘pyramid’ or similar scheme;
•	disobeys any policy or regulations established from time to time regarding use of this site or any networks connected to this site; or
•	contains hyper-links to other sites that contain content that falls within the descriptions set forth above.
Although under no obligation to do so, our Company reserves the right to monitor use of this site to determine compliance with these Terms of Use, as well the right to remove or refuse any information for any reason. Notwithstanding these rights, you remain solely responsible for the content of your submissions. You acknowledge and agree that neither Company nor any third party that provides Content to Company will assume or have any liability for any action or inaction by Company or such third party with respect to any submission.
Security
Any passwords used for this site are for individual use only. You will be responsible for the security of your password (if any). Company will be entitled to monitor your password and, at its discretion, require you to change it. If you use a password that Company considers insecure, Company will be entitled to require the password to be changed and/or terminate your account.
You are prohibited from using any services or facilities provided in connection with this site to compromise security or tamper with system resources and/or accounts. The use or distribution of tools designed for compromising security (e.g., password guessing programs, cracking tools or network probing tools) is strictly prohibited. If you become involved in any violation of system security, Company reserves the right to release your details to system administrators at other sites in order to assist them in resolving security incidents. Company reserves the right to investigate suspected violations of these Terms of Use.
Company reserves the right to fully cooperate with any law enforcement authorities or court order requesting or directing Company to disclose the identity of anyone posting any e-mail messages, or publishing or otherwise making available any materials that are believed to violate these Terms of Use.
BY ACCEPTING THIS AGREEMENT YOU WAIVE AND HOLD HARMLESS COMPANY FROM ANY CLAIMS RESULTING FROM ANY ACTION TAKEN BY COMPANY DURING OR AS A RESULT OF ITS INVESTIGATIONS AND/OR FROM ANY ACTIONS TAKEN AS A CONSEQUENCE OF INVESTIGATIONS BY EITHER [COMPANY] OR LAW ENFORCEMENT AUTHORITIES.
Miscellaneous
These Terms of Use will be governed and interpreted pursuant to the laws of California, United States of America, notwithstanding any principles of conflicts of law. You specifically consent to personal jurisdiction in California in connection with any dispute between you and Company arising out of these Terms of Use or pertaining to the subject matter hereof. The parties to these Terms of Use each agree that the exclusive venue for any dispute between the parties arising out of these Terms of Use or pertaining to the subject matter of these Terms of Use will be in the state and federal courts in San Francisco, California. If any part of these Terms of Use is unlawful, void or unenforceable, that part will be deemed severable and will not affect the validity and enforceability of any remaining provisions. These Terms of Use constitute the entire agreement among the parties relating to this subject matter. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any additional terms and conditions on this site will govern the items to which they pertain. Company may revise these Terms of Use at any time by updating this posting.
Last updated: September 21, 2010
© 2018 Noon International LLC

Your privacy is very important to us. We want to make your experience on the Internet as enjoyable and rewarding as possible, and we want you to use the Internet’s vast array of information, tools, and opportunities with complete confidence.

We have created this Privacy Policy to demonstrate our firm commitment to privacy and security. This Privacy Policy describes how our company collects information from all end users of our Internet services (the “Services”)-those who access some of our Services but do not have accounts (“Visitors”) as well as those who may purchase Products and/or pay a monthly service fee to subscribe to the Service (“Members”)-what we do with the information we collect, and the choices Visitors and Members have concerning the collection and use of such information. We request that you read this Privacy Policy carefully.

Personal Information Our Company Collects and How It Is Used

Introduction. Our company collects information in different ways from Visitors and Members who access the various parts of our Services and the network of Web sites accessible through our Service. We use this information primarily to provide a customized experience as you use our Products and Services, and generally, do not share this information with third parties. However, we may disclose personal information collected if we have received your permission beforehand or in very special circumstances, such as when we believe that such disclosure is required by law or other special cases described below.

Registration: Members may be asked to provide certain personal information when they sign up for our Products or Services including name, address, telephone number, billing information (such as a credit card number), and the type of personal computer being used to access the Services. The personal information collected from Members during the registration process is used to manage each Member’s account (such as for billing purposes). This information is not shared with third parties, unless specifically stated otherwise or in special circumstances.

However, in instances where our company and a partner jointly promote our Services, we may provide the partner certain personal information, such as the name, address, and username of persons who subscribed to the Services as a result of the joint promotion for the sole purpose of allowing us and the partner to assess the results of the promotion.

In this instance, personal information may not be used by the partner for any other purpose. We may also generate non-identifying and aggregate profiles from personal information Members provide during registration (such as the total number, but not the names, of Members). As explained in more detail below, we may use this aggregated and non-identifying information to sell advertisements that appear on the Services.

Our Company Partners and Sponsors: Some products and services may be offered to Visitors and Members in conjunction with an affiliate, independent contractor seller or non-affiliated partner. To provide Visitors and Members some of these products and services, the partner may need to collect and maintain personal information. In these instances, you will be notified before any such data is collected or transferred and may decide not to use that particular service or feature.

Additionally, our partners may have advertisements or co-branded Web Pages that are cosponsored by an affiliate, independent contractor seller, or non-affiliated partner. Our company may share non-identifying and aggregate information (except as described above), but not personal information, with such partners in order to administer the co-branded products or services offered.

Online Shopping: At some Web sites, you can purchase products and services or register to receive materials, such as a newsletter, catalog or new product and service updates. In many cases, you may be asked to provide contact information, such as your name, address, email address, phone number, and credit/debit card information.

If you complete an order for someone else, such as an online gift order sent directly to a recipient, you may be asked to provide information about the recipient, such as the recipient’s name, address, and phone number. Our company has no control over the third parties’ use of any personal information you provide when placing such an order. Please exercise care when doing so.

If you order services or products directly from our company we will use the personal information you provide only to process that order. We do not share this information with outside parties except to the extent necessary to complete that order.

Online Advertisements: Our company may display our online advertisements. In those cases we share aggregated and non-identifying information about our Visitors and Members collected through the registration process as well as through online surveys and promotions with these advertisers.

Additionally, in some instances, we use this aggregated and non-identifying information to deliver tailored advertisements or joint ventures. For instance, an advertiser or joint venture company tells us the audience they want to reach and provides us an advertisement tailored to the audience. Based upon the aggregated and non-identifying information we have collected, we may then display or send the advertisement to the intended audience. Our company does not share personal information about its Visitors or Members with these advertisers or joint venture companies.

Responses to Email Inquiries: When Visitors or Members send email inquiries to our company, the return email address is used to answer the email inquiry we receive. Our company does not use the return email address for any other purpose and does not share the return email address with any third party.

Voluntary Customer Surveys: We may periodically conduct both business and individual customer surveys. We encourage our customers to participate in these surveys because they provide us with important information that helps us to improve the types of products and services we offer and how we provide them to you. Your personal information and responses will remain strictly confidential, even if the survey is conducted by a third party. Participation in our customer surveys is voluntary.

We may take the information we receive from individuals responding to our Customer Surveys and combine (or aggregate) it with the responses of other customers we may have, to create broader, generic responses to the survey questions (such as gender, age, residence, hobbies, education, employment, industry sector, or other demographic information). We then use the aggregated information to improve the quality of our services to you, and to develop new services and products. This aggregated, non-personally identifying information may be shared with third parties.

Special Cases: It is our company’s policy not to use or share the personal information about Visitors of Members in ways unrelated to the ones described above without also providing you an opportunity to opt out or otherwise prohibit such unrelated uses.

However, we may disclose personal information about Visitors or Members, or information regarding your use of the Services or Web sites accessible through our Services, for any reason if, in our sole discretion, we believe that it is reasonable to do so, including: credit agencies, collection agencies, merchant database agencies, law enforcement, or to satisfy laws, such as the Electronic Communications Privacy Act, the Child Online Privacy Act, regulations, or governmental or legal requests for such information; to disclose information that is necessary to identify, contact, or bring legal action against someone who may be violating our Acceptable Use Policy or Terms Of Service, or other user policies; to operate the Services properly; or to protect our company and our Members.

“Cookies” and How Our Company Uses Them. A “cookie” is a small data file that can be placed on your hard drive when you visit certain Web sites. Our company may use cookies to collect, store, and sometimes track information for statistical purposes to improve the products and services we provide and to manage our telecommunications networks.

If you are a Visitor or Member we may use a cookie to save your settings and to provide customizable and personalized services. These cookies do not enable third parties to access any of your customer information. Additionally, be aware that if you visit other Web sites where you are prompted to log in or that are customizable, you may be required to accept cookies.

Advertisers and partners may also use their own cookies. We do not control use of these cookies and expressly disclaim responsibility for information collected through them.

Our Company Commitment to Children’s Privacy. Protecting children’s privacy is especially important to us. It is our policy to comply with the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act of 1998 and all other applicable laws. Therefore we restrict our Web site to persons eighteen years or older.

YOU MUST BE EIGHTEEN (18) YEARS OR OLDER TO ACCESS THIS WEB SITE. IF YOU ARE UNDER EIGHTEEN YEARS OF AGE, YOU ARE NOT PERMITTED TO ACCESS THIS WEB SITE FOR ANY REASON. DUE TO THE AGE RESTRICTIONS FOR USE OF THIS WEB SITE, NO INFORMATION OBTAINED BY THIS WEB SITE, FALLS WITHIN THE CHILD ONLINE PRIVACY ACT (COPA) AND IS NOT MONITORED AS DOING SO.

Public Forums: Please remember that any information you may disclose in any Member Directory, or other public areas of our Web sites or the Internet, becomes public information. You should exercise caution when deciding to disclose personal information in these public areas.