AFDO Membership Types:
Regulatory - Regulatory Members are individuals engaged in regulatory agency law enforcement at state, federal or local levels. These individuals receive full member services, may vote and hold office.
Virtual Access - Virtual Access Members are individuals who are engaged in government regulatory field inspection.. They are non-management regulatory agency employees who spend greater than 75% of their time out of the office conducting inspections, investigations and sample collections. These members shall be entitled to receive all mailings, entitled to full member access of the association’s website, but cannot vote or hold office.
Alumni/Student - Alumni/Student Members are retired individuals who prior to retirement were employees of agencies charged with enforcement of food, drug, cosmetic, device or product safety laws, ordinances or regulations or employees of or consultants for firms regulated by food, drug, cosmetic, device or product safety and regulated consumer protection laws. These individuals must be officially retired from the agency and must not be working or consulting for any entities regulated by regulatory members of AFDO. "Retired" is defined as those who derive more than 75% of their income from pensions or retirement plans. This category also includes any student enrolled in a two year, four year, or graduate program relating to foods, drugs, cosmetics, devices or product safety. These individuals receive all mailings, but cannot vote or hold office.
Consumers/Educational - Consumers/Educational are any individuals interested in the objectives of AFDO. These individuals must not be employed by any government agency charged with enforcement of food, drug, cosmetic, device or product safety laws, ordinances or regulations. This category also includes individuals employed by a two- or four- year college or university involved in education or research involving foods, drugs, cosmetics, devices, or product safety. These individuals receive all mailings, may serve as advisors to AFDO committees, but may not vote or hold office.
Associate Industry - Associate Industry Members are employees of consumer organizations, or employees of a firm, business, professional, consumer or trade association interested in AFDO activities. These members shall be entitled to receive all mailings, may serve as an advisor to AFDO committees, but cannot vote or hold office.
Small Business/Consultants - Small Business/Consultants are members who are employed by small companies or small firms interested in AFDO activities. These members shall be entitled to receive all mailings, may serve as an advisor to AFDO committees, but cannot vote or hold office.
Honorary Membership: Individuals eligible to hold an honorary membership shall have been regulatory members who are nominated by the Board of Directors and elected by the Association to this class of membership in recognition of their "substantial contributions" to the achievement of the objectives of the Association. Items that shall be considered in awarding an AFDO Honorary Membership are the leadership roles taken by the candidate in both the national AFDO and/or the regional affiliates, as well as the contributions made by the candidate to the basic mission of consumer protection while serving as an officer in the enforcement of food, drug, cosmetic, device, or product safety laws.