Terms & Conditions

General Terms & Conditions.

Dr. Kristin Neumann – Independent Scientific Consulting

1. Scope of Application

These General Terms and Conditions apply to all contracts between Dr. Kristin Neumann, independent scientific consultant ("Consultant"), and her clients ("Client"), concerning scientific consulting, advisory services, training sessions, workshops, lectures, expert opinions, and related services in the fields of microbiome science, product development, testing strategies, claim substantiation, and associated topics. Any deviating or supplementary terms of the Client shall not apply unless expressly agreed upon in writing.

2. Subject of the Contract

The subject of the contract is the provision of scientific consulting and advisory services. The Consultant does not guarantee any specific economic, commercial, regulatory, or market-related outcome. The Consultant's obligation is limited to the careful, professional, and scientifically sound performance of the agreed services based on current scientific knowledge and professional experience.

3. Conclusion of Contract

A contract shall be concluded when the Consultant submits a written offer (e.g. via email or PDF) and the Client accepts this offer in writing (email is sufficient). Any verbal agreements shall require written confirmation to be valid.

4. Scope of Services and Client Cooperation

The scope of services results from the individual offer or agreement. The Client undertakes to provide all information and materials necessary for the performance of the services in a complete and accurate manner, appoint responsible contact persons, and ensure timely cooperation. Any delays caused by incomplete or delayed cooperation shall not be the responsibility of the Consultant.

5. Fees and Payment Terms

Fees shall be based on the agreed offer. Unless otherwise agreed, all fees are exclusive of applicable VAT, and invoices are payable within 14 days without deduction. In the event of late payment, statutory interest on arrears may be charged.

6. Liability

The Consultant shall be liable without limitation in cases of intent or gross negligence, and in cases of slight negligence only for breaches of essential contractual obligations, limited to foreseeable and typical damages. Any liability for business or strategic decisions of the Client, regulatory approvals, legal admissibility of claims, commercial success of products, or market performance is excluded unless explicitly agreed otherwise in writing. The Consultant does not provide legal, regulatory, or approval-related advice.

7. Confidentiality

Both parties agree to treat all confidential information obtained in the course of the cooperation as strictly confidential. This confidentiality obligation shall remain in effect after termination of the contractual relationship.

8. Intellectual Property and Usage Rights

All materials created by the Consultant (including presentations, training materials, concepts, analyses, and written reports) are protected by copyright. The Client is granted a non-exclusive, non-transferable right of use for internal purposes only, unless otherwise agreed in writing. Any reproduction, publication, or transfer to third parties beyond the agreed scope is prohibited without prior written consent.

9. Cancellation and Rescheduling

For scheduled services (e.g. workshops, training sessions, consulting appointments):

Any expenses already incurred shall remain payable.

10. Force Majeure

Events of force majeure (e.g. illness, governmental measures, technical failures) entitle both parties to reasonably adjust or reschedule services. No claims for damages shall arise in such cases.

11. Governing Law and Jurisdiction

These Terms and Conditions shall be governed by the laws of the Federal Republic of Germany. The place of jurisdiction, insofar as legally permissible, shall be the registered place of business of the Consultant.

12. Severability Clause

Should any provision of these Terms and Conditions be or become invalid, the validity of the remaining provisions shall remain unaffected.