Terms and Conditions

1. Company details

GeneticPlace is a trade name of DJM Genetics, a sole proprietorship established in the Netherlands.

• Trade name: DJM Genetics, trading as GeneticPlace
• Legal form: Sole proprietorship (eenmanszaak)
• Company register number: 87933071
• Establishment number: 000053821637
• Registered address: Wetering-Oost 14a, 8363 TJ Wetering
• Email: info@geneticplace.com
• Phone: 06 30 10 29 55
• VAT number: not applicable (Dutch small business scheme)

2. Definitions

• Platform: the GeneticPlace website and all related services
• GeneticPlace: the operator of the Platform, being DJM Genetics
• User: any visitor who creates an account on the Platform
• Buyer: a User who places a bid or makes a purchase
• Seller: a User who places a listing on the Platform
• Listing: an advertisement for an animal or embryo on the Platform
• Auction: a timed auction on the Platform with a set closing date
• Auction bid: a financial offer from a Buyer in an Auction (section 6)
• Price offer: a financial offer from a Buyer on a Listing with a fixed price, outside an Auction (section 8)
• Counter offer: a single financial counter proposal from the Seller in response to a Price offer (section 8)
• Buy now: a purchase at a fixed price set by the Seller
• Reserve price: a secret minimum amount above which the Seller is obliged to sell
• Consumer: a natural person not acting in the course of a profession or business

3. Scope

These Terms and Conditions apply to every use of the Platform, including creating an account, placing listings, bidding in auctions and completing transactions.

By creating an account or using the Platform, the User agrees to these terms.

The Platform is aimed primarily at business users (B2B), such as breeders, cattle farmers and traders. Insofar as a Buyer qualifies as a Consumer, the mandatory provisions of consumer law apply in full.

4. Role of the Platform

GeneticPlace is an intermediary platform within the meaning of Art. 7:425 of the Dutch Civil Code. The Platform facilitates bringing Buyers and Sellers together and completing the transaction, but is not a party to the purchase agreement between Buyer and Seller.

GeneticPlace does not itself buy or sell animals or embryos, and is not the owner or custodian of the animal or embryo offered during the Auction or after allocation.

The purchase agreement is concluded directly between Buyer and Seller at the moment of allocation (an Auction closing with a valid bid above the Reserve price, or a confirmed Buy now transaction).

5. Account

• An account is personal and may not be shared or transferred
• The User is responsible for keeping the login details confidential
• If the User suspects misuse, they must report this to GeneticPlace immediately
• GeneticPlace may block or terminate accounts in the event of misuse, fraud, non-payment, or breach of these terms
• A User must be at least 18 years old to create an account

6. Auction rules

This section covers Auctions only. A Price offer on a Listing with a fixed price follows different rules; those are set out in section 8.

6.1 Auction bids are binding

Every Auction bid a Buyer places is a binding offer to purchase. An Auction bid cannot be withdrawn once placed, unless GeneticPlace allows this in exceptional cases (for example a demonstrable typing error reported immediately before the Auction closes).

6.2 Anti-sniping

If an Auction bid is placed in the final minutes of an Auction, the Auction is extended automatically. This gives all bidders a fair chance to respond. The exact extension is shown per Auction.

6.3 Automatic bidding (proxy)

A Buyer can set a maximum bid. The system then automatically bids the minimum amount required on behalf of the Buyer, until the maximum set is reached. The maximum bid is secret and is not shared with other bidders or with the Seller.

6.4 Reserve price

The Seller can set a secret Reserve price. If it is not reached, the Seller is not obliged to sell and no purchase agreement is concluded. The status “Reserve price not reached” is shown to bidders.

6.5 Buy now

Some Auctions offer a “Buy now” option at a fixed price. This option lapses as soon as the current bid reaches or exceeds the Buy now price.

6.6 Closing and allocation

After the Auction closes, the animal or embryo is allocated to the highest bidder, provided any Reserve price has been reached. Buyer and Seller receive confirmation of this by email. From that moment the purchase agreement has been concluded.

7. Fixed-price sales and reservation

For listings with a fixed price (Buy now without an auction) the following reservation process applies:

• As soon as a Buyer clicks “Buy now”, the listing is reserved for that Buyer for up to 20 minutes
• Within those 20 minutes the Buyer must pay the intermediary commission (section 11) using one of the payment methods Mollie offers at checkout
• If the commission payment is not completed within 20 minutes, the reservation lapses automatically and the listing becomes available to other Buyers again
• The purchase becomes final at the moment the commission payment is completed successfully and confirmed by Mollie; contact between Buyer and Seller then opens
• If a payment is cancelled or fails, the reservation is released and the Buyer can try again, provided the listing is still available

8. Offer on a fixed-price listing

In addition to “Buy now”, a Buyer can make a Price offer on a Listing with a fixed price. A Price offer is something other than an Auction bid (section 6) and the auction rules do not apply to it. Where these terms state that a bid is binding and cannot be withdrawn, that refers to the Auction bid only.

8.1 The Price offer

• A Price offer is an offer from the Buyer to the Seller. The Seller is not obliged to accept it and does not have to respond
• A Price offer is at most the asking price and at least half of it; the exact minimum is shown when the offer is made
• A Price offer is valid for 72 hours from the moment it is made. After that it lapses by operation of law and the Seller can no longer accept it
• The Buyer can withdraw their Price offer while it is open, and also while a Counter offer is on the table that they have not yet responded to
• A Price offer does not change the asking price. The Seller may keep adjusting their asking price while the Price offer is open
• To prevent misuse, there are limits on the number of open Price offers per Buyer and on the number of Price offers per Buyer per Listing per 24 hours. Those limits are shown in the Platform as soon as they are reached

8.2 Counter offer from the Seller

• The Seller can accept an open Price offer, reject it, or respond once with a Counter offer
• A Counter offer is above the Price offer and below the asking price, and is valid for 72 hours. If the Buyer does not respond within that period, the Counter offer lapses and with it the Price offer
• There is no second Counter offer: the Buyer accepts, rejects, or withdraws their Price offer. The Seller can withdraw their Counter offer as long as the Buyer has not responded; the underlying Price offer then lapses as well
• If the Buyer accepts the Counter offer, the amount of the Counter offer counts as the purchase price, not the original Price offer

8.3 Acceptance, payment period and conclusion

• On acceptance, any other open Price offers on the same Listing are rejected. The Buyers concerned are notified
• After acceptance the Buyer has 48 hours to pay the intermediary commission (section 11). The commission is calculated on the accepted amount
• The Seller can take back an acceptance as long as the Buyer has not yet started the commission payment; the accepted Price offer then lapses and the Buyer is notified
• If the Buyer does not pay the commission within 48 hours, the allocation lapses and the Listing becomes available to others again
• The purchase agreement is concluded at the moment the commission payment is completed successfully and confirmed by Mollie; contact between Buyer and Seller then opens, as with Buy now (section 7)
• The purchase price is then settled directly between Buyer and Seller, outside the Platform (section 11.3)

8.4 Packages

Semen straws and embryos can be offered as a package. For a package, the price shown, and therefore also every Price offer, Counter offer and the commission calculated on it, applies to the complete package and not per unit. The number of units is stated with the Listing.

9. Seller obligations

• The listing contains a truthful and complete description of the animal or embryo offered, including pedigree, age, health status, pregnancy status and any production figures
• Photos and videos are current, representative and not misleading
• The Seller warrants that they are entitled to sell the animal or embryo and that no third-party rights attach to it
• The animal complies with the applicable animal health legislation (including the Dutch Animals Act, the Animal Health Law (EU) 2016/429 and the Dutch rules on animal identification and registration)
• The Seller is responsible for the I&R registration with the RVO (the Dutch government agency for animal registration), including reporting the transfer on time
• For cross-border sales, the Seller is responsible for obtaining the required veterinary certificate
• The Seller delivers the animal or embryo within a reasonable period, in line with the arrangements made with the Buyer about payment of the purchase price and delivery

10. Buyer obligations

• An Auction bid that has been placed and a successful Buy now are binding; the Buyer is obliged to take delivery, to pay the intermediary commission to GeneticPlace and to pay the purchase price to the Seller. Section 8 applies to a Price offer: that only binds the Buyer once the Seller accepts it or the Buyer accepts a Counter offer
• The intermediary commission must be paid using one of the payment methods Mollie offers at checkout, within the period stated on the commission invoice; the purchase price is settled directly with the Seller in line with the arrangements made between them
• The Buyer is responsible for arranging transport from the Seller
• The Buyer must update the I&R registration with the RVO within the statutory period (3 working days) after receipt
• If the commission is not paid on time, GeneticPlace may reverse the allocation, block the account from future auctions, and charge the statutory interest for late payment

11. Commission, payment and purchase price

11.1 Platform commission

GeneticPlace charges the Buyer an intermediary commission on the purchase price. The current percentage (5% by default) is shown when bidding, on the Buy now button and on the commission invoice. No seller commission is charged, unless agreed otherwise with the Seller.

11.2 Payment of the commission

After allocation (a winning bid or Buy now) the Buyer receives a commission invoice. The commission is paid to GeneticPlace via Mollie B.V., using the payment methods Mollie offers at checkout. Which methods those are may differ depending on the Buyer's country. Once the commission payment has been received, contact between Buyer and Seller opens through the chat function of the Platform. If the Buyer does not pay the commission invoice within the period stated on the invoice, the allocation lapses and the lot becomes available again; in the event of repeated non-payment GeneticPlace may block the Buyer's account.

11.3 Payment of the purchase price

The purchase price of the animal or embryo is settled directly between Buyer and Seller, outside the Platform. GeneticPlace is not a party to this payment, does not hold any funds of the Buyer or the Seller, and is not liable for the Buyer meeting their payment obligation towards the Seller or for the Seller meeting their delivery obligation towards the Buyer. Buyer and Seller are advised to record their arrangements about when and how payment takes place through the chat function of the Platform.

The purchase agreement is concluded between Buyer and Seller at the moment of allocation. The commission is due regardless of how the purchase price is settled between the parties afterwards.

12. Delivery, transport and transfer of risk

Transport of the animal or embryo is the responsibility of Buyer and Seller. Unless Buyer and Seller have agreed otherwise in writing, the risk of loss, damage, illness or death passes to the Buyer at the moment the animal or embryo is handed over to the Buyer, or to a carrier appointed by the Buyer.

GeneticPlace is not a party to the transport and accepts no liability for damage, loss, illness or death of the animal or embryo during transport. Buyer and Seller are advised to make clear arrangements between them about this, including the method of transport, liability and any transport insurance.

13. Embryos

The following different provisions apply to embryos:

• Embryos are not delivered by the standard physical transport used for live animals
• Buyer and Seller agree the method of delivery between them through the chat function of the Platform, including storage in liquid nitrogen, transport by a specialised company, and handover to a veterinarian or breeding station
• The dispute procedure (section 16) also applies to embryo transactions, on the understanding that the Buyer must confirm receipt as soon as the embryos are actually in their care or in the care of their appointed veterinarian or breeding station
• The Seller warrants that the embryos demonstrably come from the donor animal named in the listing and that any documentation (pedigree certificate, veterinary certification) is correct

14. Conformity and defects

Under Art. 7:17 of the Dutch Civil Code, the animal or embryo delivered must correspond to the purchase agreement. Non-conformity may include:

• A material deviation from the description in the listing (pedigree, age, health status, pregnancy status, production figures, breeding values)
• An unknown illness or defect present at the moment of transfer, which the Seller could or should have been aware of with normal care
• A material deviation from the photos or videos shown on the Platform

If the Buyer suspects non-conformity, they must open a dispute through the Platform as soon as possible, and in any event within 14 days of receipt (see section 16). Later reports are only handled if the Buyer shows that the defect could not have been discovered earlier.

It is the Buyer's responsibility to inspect the animal or embryo on receipt, or have it inspected, if necessary with the help of a veterinarian.

15. Certificate checked label

A Seller can upload a health declaration or test result with a Listing (for example IBR-free, BVD-free, leptospirosis-free or a DNA result). GeneticPlace checks that document for its sender, for whether it belongs to the animal offered, and for its date. If that check is in order, the Platform shows the label “Certificate checked” with that Listing, stating the type of declaration and the date. The document itself stays private and is not shown to Buyers.

The declarations are supplied by the Seller. GeneticPlace checks the document and not the animal: the label is not a veterinary declaration by GeneticPlace and not a guarantee about the health of the animal. Responsibility for the accuracy and currency of the declaration supplied remains with the Seller (section 9), and the Buyer is advised to inspect the animal on receipt, or have it inspected (section 14).

If a declaration has an end date, the label lapses on that date. GeneticPlace can withdraw a label if there is reason to do so, for example when the identity of the animal in the Listing changes after the check, or when the document turns out to be incorrect. The absence of the label does not mean an animal is not healthy; it only means there is no document checked by us with this Listing.

16. Dispute resolution

If there are problems after a purchase, the Buyer can open a dispute through the Platform. The dispute process runs as follows:

1. The Buyer reports the problem through “Report a problem” with the purchase concerned in their account, within 14 days of receipt
2. The Seller is informed and is given the opportunity to respond within 7 days
3. GeneticPlace assesses the dispute and mediates between the parties
4. Possible outcomes: a mediation proposal, a solution agreed between the parties (such as rescinding the purchase or adjusting the price), or, for complaints about the commission, a (partial) credit of the commission
5. GeneticPlace is not a party to the purchase price and cannot enforce a refund of it; GeneticPlace can block the account of the party concerned where a breach has been established

If the dispute cannot be resolved through mediation by GeneticPlace, the parties are free to bring the dispute before the competent court (see section 22).

GeneticPlace is not affiliated with a disputes committee. The European Commission's Online Dispute Resolution platform, referred to in earlier versions of these terms, was discontinued on 20 July 2025 and no longer handles complaints.

17. Right of withdrawal

Insofar as a Buyer qualifies as a Consumer, the following applies:

• Live animals are excluded from the statutory right of withdrawal under Art. 6:230p(e) of the Dutch Civil Code. A bid that has been placed, a won Auction or a Buy now transaction for a live animal therefore cannot be withdrawn
• For embryos, the right of withdrawal is likewise excluded on the grounds of the nature of the product and the impossibility of returning it without loss of value (Art. 6:230p(g) of the Dutch Civil Code)
• Buyer protection through dispute resolution (see section 16) of course continues to apply in full

18. Liability

In its role as an intermediary platform, GeneticPlace is not liable for:

• The accuracy, completeness or currency of information provided by Sellers
• The health, performance or breeding value of animals or embryos sold after delivery
• Damage arising during transport (see section 12)
• Disputes between Buyer and Seller insofar as these take place outside mediation by GeneticPlace
• Technical faults, interruptions or limited availability of the Platform
• Indirect damage, consequential damage, lost profit, lost breeding revenue or immaterial damage

Insofar as GeneticPlace would nevertheless be liable, that liability is at all times limited to the amount of the buyer commission GeneticPlace received for the transaction concerned, with a maximum of EUR 5,000 per event or series of connected events.

The limitations above do not apply in the event of intent or deliberate recklessness on the part of GeneticPlace, or insofar as mandatory law provides otherwise (such as consumer law).

19. Account and termination

• The User can delete their account at any time through the account settings
• GeneticPlace may block or terminate accounts in the event of misuse, fraud, repeated non-payment, or breach of these terms
• On termination, obligations from transactions in progress remain in force (taking delivery, payment, delivery, registration)
• Disputes in progress are completed in accordance with section 16 despite the account being terminated

20. I&R and NVWA

All cattle traded must be registered in the I&R system of the RVO (the Dutch government agency for animal registration). Both Buyer and Seller are responsible for reporting the transfer correctly and on time (within 3 working days). The Platform sends a reminder after a transaction, but that reminder does not release the parties from their own statutory duty to report.

For cross-border sales, the Seller is responsible for obtaining the necessary veterinary certificates and for complying with the applicable EU legislation.

21. Changes

GeneticPlace reserves the right to change these terms. Where changes materially affect the position of Users, Users are informed at least 14 days in advance by email or through a notification on the Platform. Continued use of the Platform after the change takes effect counts as acceptance of the amended terms.

For purchase agreements already concluded, the terms in force at that moment continue to apply.

22. Applicable law and competent court

These terms, the use of the Platform, and all agreements and disputes arising from them are governed exclusively by Dutch law.

Disputes that cannot be resolved through the procedure in section 16 are brought exclusively before the competent court of the District Court of Noord-Nederland, unless mandatory law designates a different court (such as in disputes with a Consumer, in which case the Consumer can also turn to the court of their place of residence).

23. Contact

For questions about these terms you can contact us at info@geneticplace.com or by phone on 06 30 10 29 55.