Editor-in-Chief: Tore Midtvedt - Stockholm, Sweden

Co-Editors: Phil Carter – Raleigh, USA; Elisabeth Norin – Stockholm, Sweeden

Editor/Oral Microbiology: Ingar Olsen - Oslo, Norway

Editorial Board:

Patricia Conway - Sydney, Australia

Zinghua Guo - Beijing, China

M. J. Hudson - Salisbury, UK

Tiimo Nevalainen - Kuopio, Finland

Michel Fons - Jouy-en-Josas, France

Joseph Beuth - Cologne, Germany

P. Mastrantonio - Rome, Italy

T. Mitsuoka - Tokyo, Japan

Ian Rowland - Coleraine, Northern Ireland

Elisabeth Norin - Stockholm, Sweden

G. W. Welling - Groningen, The Netherlands

R. J. Carman - Blacksburg, USA

C. Wells - Minneapolis, USA

The journal has been founded in England by Professor S. P. Borriello and firstly issued in January 1988 as the official journal of the Society for Intestinal Microbial Ecology and Disease (SIMED). Initially published by Wiley, was soon taken over by Scandinavian University Press and from 1998 was acquired by Taylor & Francis as the official journal of the re-named Society for Microbial Ecology in Health and Disease (SOMED). At the 2001 SOMED General Assembly, it was accepted the Publisher’s generous offer of a collective subscription to the journal for all SOMED members.

In September 2004, the below reported agreement, valid from January 2005 to December 2009 between the SOMED President Bodil Lund Jacobsen and the Taylor & Francis representative Anne Bindslev has been signed.

Agreement

between the Society of Microbial Ecology and Disease (SOMED) (hereinafter called the Society) and Taylor & Francis (hereinafter called the Publisher) concerning subscriptions to Microbial Ecology in Health & Disease (hereinafter called the Journal).

§ 1. (members’ subscription)

On behalf of all its members, the Society is to subscribe to the Journal for the period 2005 to 2009 (volumes 17 to 21).

§ 2. (frequency)

The Publisher guarantees that each subscription per volume and year comprises four (4) regular issues. Each volume (regular issues) comprises at least 224 pages. Supplements, if any, are also included in the subscription.

§ 3. (leaflets and advertisements)

The Society is entitled to insert non-commercial leaflets and the like in regular issues forwarded to its members. The Society and the Publisher are to agree on the practical arrangements (handling, postage, etc.).

§ 4. (membership record and distribution)

The Publisher keeps the membership roster and updates it continuously. As soon as possible after each issue has been printed, the Publisher is to send it directly to each individual member of the Society.

New members will be sent all issues of the volume pertaining to the year they join the Society (so-called catch-ups).

A copy of the membership list may be obtained by The Society at any time.

§ 5. (members’ use of the Journal)

The Publisher make this offer on the strict condition that The Society states in its Newsletter and on its web site that such a subscription is:

For private use of that individual accredited Society member

Received at the private or home address of that individual accredited Society member

Not placed in a library nor in any way used to substitute for an existing or potential library (full) subscription

§ 6. (number of subscriptions)

The number of member subscriptions as of volume 17 (2005) is approx. 125. The Society guarantees a minimum number of member subscriptions of 100 in 2005 and 2006.

§ 7. (subscription fee)

The subscription fee for each member subscription is USD 55 in 2005 and USD 58 in 2006. Subscription rates for 2007, 2008 and 2009 are to be negotiated in August of the preceding year.

Each subscription includes regular issues and any supplements in print, as well as online access to the full text, plus postage and handling costs.

§ 8. (payment)

The Publisher is to send all 2004 members of the Society a dues renewal notice for 2005 membership.

On October 1^st each publication year, the Publisher is to remit the membership dues to the Society (number of members x dues) minus the costs for the subscriptions (number of members x subscription rate).

§ 9. (agreement period)

This agreement between the Society and the Publisher is valid upon signing of both parties from January 1^st 2005 to December 31, 2009.

§ 10. (termination of agreement)

Notice of termination should be given by either party at least nine (9) months in advance, i.e. by March 31, 2009 at the latest. If notice is not given within the prescribed time, the agreement will automatically be extended by three (3) years on the condition that both parties reach settlement concerning the subscription fee.

§ 11. (number of copies of agreements)

This agreement has been drawn in two identical copies, of which the parties have received one each.