General Terms and Conditions of Use and Sale

Preamble

These General Terms and Conditions of Use and Sale (hereinafter the “Terms”) govern access to and use of the intermediation platform accessible at pepo.bio and its subdomains (hereinafter the “Platform” or “Pepobio”), as well as the sales concluded through it.

The Platform is published and operated by Arnaud Poullet, a natural person acting as a self-employed person on a complementary basis, whose place of business is located at Avenue de Tervueren 99, 1040 Etterbeek, registered with the Crossroads Bank for Enterprises (CBE) under number 1039.745.968, VAT number BE 1039.745.968, contact address: support@pepo.bio (hereinafter the “Operator”, “we” or “Pepobio”).

Role of the Platform. Pepobio is a marketplace that connects producers, farmers and artisans (hereinafter the “Sellers”) with customers wishing to purchase their products for on-site collection (hereinafter the “Customer” or the “Buyer”). The contract of sale of the products is concluded directly between the Seller and the Buyer. Pepobio is neither the seller nor the producer of the products offered; it provides a technical intermediation, payment collection and matchmaking service. Pepobio acts as an online platform operator. The Sellers listed are enterprises within the meaning of Article I.1 of the Code of Economic Law (“CEL”).

By creating an account, using the Platform or placing an order as a guest, the user declares that they have read these Terms and accept them without reservation.

Article 1. Definitions

• Platform: the pepo.bio website, its subdomains and associated services.
• Operator: Arnaud Poullet, operator of the Platform.
• Seller: any producer, farmer or artisan listed on the Platform and offering products for sale.
• Buyer / Customer: any natural or legal person who places an order via the Platform.
• Consumer: any Buyer who is a natural person acting for purposes which are outside their trade, business, craft or profession, within the meaning of Article I.1 of the Code of Economic Law.
• Product: any good (in particular fresh foodstuffs) offered by a Seller through an offer.
• Offer / Batch: the making available by a Seller of a specific Product, in limited quantity, at a price and, where applicable, with a freshness date (recommended consumption date).
• Pick-up point: the physical location, defined by the Seller, where the Buyer collects their order (in v1: the producer's shop).
• Pick-up slot: the time window proposed by the Seller for the collection of the order.

Article 2. Purpose and scope

The purpose of these Terms is to define the conditions of use of the Platform as well as the conditions of the sales concluded between Sellers and Buyers through it.

They apply to the exclusion of any other terms. The fact that the Operator does not invoke a clause does not constitute a waiver of that clause.

The Operator reserves the right to amend these Terms at any time. The version applicable to an order is the version in force at the time the order is placed. Amendments are published on the Platform and take effect upon publication for any new order.

Territory. In v1, the Platform is aimed at the Belgian market. The Sellers and the pick-up points are located in Belgium and sales are denominated in euros (EUR).

Article 3. User account and guest checkout

3.1 Account creation

The Buyer may create a single account, valid on the Platform and across all Seller spaces. The Buyer undertakes to provide accurate information and to keep it up to date. Login credentials are personal and confidential; the Buyer is responsible for their use.

3.2 Guest checkout

The Buyer may also order without creating an account (“guest checkout”) by providing the information strictly necessary for the performance of the order (name, e-mail address and telephone number for the coordination of the collection). A tracking link is sent to them by e-mail.

3.3 Suspension

The Operator may suspend or close an account in the event of a breach of these Terms, fraudulent use or conduct harmful to the Platform, the Sellers or other users.

Article 4. Offers, products and availability

The Products are described by the Sellers. The photographs and descriptions illustrating the catalogue are provided for information purposes only and are not contractually binding. The Operator cannot be held liable for any non-conformity of a photograph or description provided by a Seller.

Each Offer corresponds to a batch of limited quantity. As the Products are partly fresh foodstuffs, availability changes in real time. An Offer may include a freshness date (recommended consumption date): the pick-up slot selected by the Buyer must be on or before that date.

Sales mode. The Seller determines, at the level of each Offer, whether the Product is sold by the piece, by weight or by volume, as well as the applicable sales increment (for example per 100 g). The price displayed at the time of the order is final; no weighing or price adjustment takes place at collection.

Article 4bis. Ranking of Sellers and Offers on discovery pages

Scope and purpose

The Platform aggregates the Offers of many independent Sellers (producers). On the discovery surfaces (the home page of the main domain, the product browsing grids, the Seller lists and the individual product pages), the Offers and the Sellers are displayed in a defined and deterministic order. The ordering rules are designed to provide a fully specified, non-arbitrary sequence and fair exposure across Sellers, in accordance with the ranking transparency requirements of Regulation (EU) 2019/1150 (“Platform-to-Business” or “P2B”) and Article VI.45/1 of the Code of Economic Law.

No Seller pays for placement, and there is no Seller-specific ranking boost. The main ranking parameters are, in their order of application: relevance to the user's search terms, price, geographic proximity to the user and, as a neutral tie-breaker between otherwise equivalent Sellers, a daily rotation applied across the Platform. Every ordering ends with a unique and stable identifier, so that the sequence is never undefined.

1. Product grids (browsing / search by product)

These pages display one tile per product, each tile aggregating all Sellers offering that product (lowest available price and nearest pick-up point). As a tile represents a product and not a Seller, no cross-Seller rotation applies at this level. Products are ordered by:

1. Relevance, where the user has entered a search query: exact name match first, then names beginning with the query, then other matches.

2. Otherwise, the sort order chosen by the user: ascending price, or ascending distance from the user's location.

3. The product name, then the product's stable identifier, as final tie-breakers, so that identically named products are never ordered arbitrarily.

2. Seller (producer) lists

Sellers are ordered by:

1. Geographic proximity, from nearest to farthest, where the user has provided a location (a postal code, from which the distance to each Seller's pick-up points is computed).

2. Where no location is available (for example on the home page of the main domain), all distances are considered equal and Sellers are ordered by a daily rotation: a hash of each Seller's identifier combined with the current calendar date (Europe/Brussels time zone). This produces a defined order, identical for all users on a given day and reshuffled once per day, giving each Seller varying but non-preferential exposure over time.

3. The Seller's stable identifier as the absolute final tie-breaker.

3. Offers on a product page (several Sellers, same product)

Where the same product is offered by several Sellers, those Offers are ordered by:

1. The product's default variant first.

2. Ascending price.

3. Geographic proximity to the user, where a location is known.

4. For Offers that remain equivalent (most commonly equally priced Offers where no user location has been provided), the same daily rotation described above (a hash of the Seller's identifier and the current Brussels calendar date).

5. The Offer's stable identifier as the absolute final tie-breaker.

Key properties for compliance

• Deterministic and fully defined: the ordering never relies on an undefined order; every sequence ends with a unique and stable key.
• Neutral tie-breaking / fair exposure: where Sellers are otherwise equivalent (in particular on the non-personalised home page), position is determined by a date-seeded daily rotation rather than by a fixed characteristic such as name or registration date, so that no Seller enjoys a permanent positional advantage.
• Uniform, non-personalised rotation seed: the rotation depends only on the calendar date, identical for all users; it is not tailored to an individual user.
• No paid or preferential ranking: placement cannot be purchased and there is no Seller-specific promotion; the only parameters that move a Seller up are relevance, price and proximity to the user. Should paid promotion ever be introduced in the future, it would be explicitly flagged, in accordance with Article VI.100, 24° of the Code of Economic Law.

Technical details: the daily rotation is seeded by the calendar date (Europe/Brussels time zone), and “proximity” is measured as the great-circle (as the crow flies) distance between the centroid of the user's postal code and the Seller's nearest usable pick-up point.

Article 5. Conclusion of the sale

The Buyer selects the Offers, adds them to their basket (which may contain Products from several Sellers), then validates their order. The basket is presented separately for each Seller.

Sub-orders per Seller. An order comprising Products from several Sellers gives rise to a separate sub-order per Seller, each constituting an autonomous contract of sale between the Buyer and the Seller concerned. In v1, payment is made separately for each Seller.

Confirmation. The sale is concluded upon confirmation of payment. The order confirmation, sent electronically, constitutes an electronic signature and has, between the Parties, the same legal value as a handwritten signature. The Platform's recording systems are regarded as evidence of the nature, content and date of the order.

Cancellation by the Seller. Confirmation is immediate, but the Seller may cancel an order or an order line (in particular in the event of a spoiled or unavailable batch) at any time before collection. In that case, the cancelled part is fully refunded and the Buyer is informed.

Article 6. Prices

Prices are indicated in euros, all taxes included (VAT included). Only the price displayed on the Platform at the time of the order is binding between the Parties.

The applicable VAT regime is determined by the Seller and their own situation. Some Sellers may fall under a special regime (for example the agricultural flat-rate scheme or the small enterprise exemption scheme); in that case, the VAT statement on receipts may differ.

No delivery costs apply, as the Platform operates exclusively on an on-site collection basis.

Article 7. Payment

Payment is made exclusively online, at the time of the order, via the payment service provider Mollie. The payment methods offered include in particular Bancontact and the usual payment cards. Pepobio has no access to full card data, which is processed directly by the payment provider.

Collection and commission. Pepobio acts as a technical payment collection intermediary. For each sale, a Platform commission is charged in the form of a service fee (“application fee”) on the payment, the balance going to the Seller. The Seller is the merchant of record for their sub-order.

No late payment is possible, as payment precedes the confirmation of the order.

Article 8. Collection of the products

The Products are collected by the Buyer, in person or by a third party of their choice, at the pick-up point and during the pick-up slot selected at the time of the order. In v1, the pick-up point is the Seller's shop.

The Seller defines their slots, any capacity limits and a minimum ordering lead time before collection. Pick-up hours are independent of the shop opening hours that may be displayed on the Seller's space.

Verification upon collection. At the time of collection, the Buyer is invited to verify the conformity of the Products handed over against their order. Conforming Products cannot be refused. Any reservation concerning a missing or non-conforming Product must be reported to the Seller at the time of collection. A collection receipt may be drawn up.

Failure to collect (no-show). In the absence of collection within the chosen slot, the Seller may, after expiry of a grace period, record the failure to collect. As the goods are perishable foodstuffs, no refund is due as of right in the event of a failure to collect attributable to the Buyer, without prejudice to a goodwill gesture by the Seller.

Article 9. Right of withdrawal

9.1 Principle: a distance sale

As the order is placed and paid for online in a binding manner, the sale concluded through the Platform constitutes a distance sale within the meaning of the Code of Economic Law, even though the Product is subsequently collected on site. Consequently, the Consumer has in principle, in accordance with Article VI.47 of the Code of Economic Law, a period of 14 calendar days to withdraw, without giving reasons and without penalty.

This right applies only to Consumers (natural persons acting for private purposes).

9.2 Starting point of the period

In the case of on-site collection, the 14-day period runs from the day after the day of collection of the Product by the Consumer (and not from the order). Where the order covers several Products collected separately, the period runs from the collection of the last Product.

9.3 Exception: perishable goods and unsealed goods

Exception applicable to most Products. In accordance with Article VI.53 of the Code of Economic Law, the right of withdrawal does not apply, in particular, to the supply of goods liable to deteriorate or expire rapidly, nor to sealed goods which are not suitable for return for reasons of health protection or hygiene and which have been unsealed after delivery. The majority of the fresh Products offered on the Platform fall within this exception and cannot therefore be subject to withdrawal.

9.4 Products not covered by the exception

For Products which do not fall within this exception (for example certain non-perishable and unsealed products), the Consumer may exercise their right of withdrawal within the aforementioned 14-day period by informing the Seller concerned by means of an unambiguous statement (for example via the model withdrawal form). The Products must be returned in their original condition and packaging; the Consumer is only liable for any diminished value resulting from handling other than what is necessary to establish the nature and characteristics of the goods. The direct costs of returning the goods are borne by the Consumer.

The refund is made without undue delay and at the latest 14 days after the Seller has been informed of the withdrawal, using the same means of payment as that used for the order. The Seller may withhold the refund until the Products have been recovered or proof of their dispatch has been provided.

9.5 Information of the Consumer and acknowledgement of receipt

Consequence of a failure to inform. The Consumer is informed of the existence, conditions and procedures for exercising their right of withdrawal before the order. In the absence of such information, the withdrawal period is extended by twelve months from the end of the initial 14-day period.

Online procedures (as from 19 June 2026). The Platform makes an online withdrawal function (dedicated button) available to the Consumer and sends them, without delay, on a durable medium, an acknowledgement of receipt of their withdrawal stating in particular its content as well as the date and time of its submission.

9.6 Contact person and form

The right of withdrawal, where it applies, is exercised against the Seller concerned, the latter being the Buyer's contracting party; the Platform may technically facilitate this process. A model withdrawal form is made available to the Consumer on the Platform.

Article 10. Cancellation and refunds

Cancellation by the Buyer. The Buyer may cancel their order until the cut-off defined by the Seller (at the latest, the minimum ordering lead time preceding the pick-up slot). In that case, the Buyer receives a full refund. After that cut-off, cancellation requires the Seller's agreement.

Cancellation by the Seller. In the event of total or partial cancellation by the Seller, the cancelled part is fully refunded.

Procedures. Refunds are made via the payment provider, to the means of payment used at the time of the order. As the refund is processed from the funds of the Seller concerned, its processing time may depend on the payment provider.

Article 11. Conformity and warranties

The Seller is solely responsible for the conformity of the Products they sell, their quality, their food safety and compliance with the applicable regulations (in particular as regards labelling, allergens and labels such as “organic”).

The Consumer benefits from the legal warranty of conformity provided for in Articles 1649bis et seq. of the Civil Code. This warranty is owed by the Seller, the Buyer's contracting party. The Buyer informs the Seller of any defect as soon as possible.

Given the perishable nature of many Products, any complaint relating to the condition of a fresh Product must be addressed to the Seller without delay after collection, ideally on the same day.

Article 12. Liability of the Platform

Pepobio provides an intermediation service. As such, its liability is limited to the proper technical functioning of the Platform and of the payment collection service. Pepobio is not a party to the contract of sale and cannot be held liable for the Products, their conformity, their availability, the observance of pick-up slots or the relations between the Buyer and the Seller.

Pepobio uses reasonable means to ensure the availability and security of the Platform, without guaranteeing a total absence of interruption or error. The Operator is liable, in accordance with ordinary law, for the performance of its essential obligations, namely the operation of the Platform and of the payment collection service.

Nothing in these Terms limits or excludes the Operator's liability in the event of intentional fault or gross negligence on its part or on the part of its employees or agents, in the event of death or personal injury, or, except in cases of force majeure, in the event of non-performance of one of its main services. In other cases, the Operator's liability towards the Consumer is limited to direct and foreseeable damage, up to the total amount of the order concerned. Indirect damage (such as loss of turnover, loss of data or commercial prejudice) is excluded to the extent permitted by law. The rights that the Consumer derives from mandatory legal provisions are not affected by this clause.

Article 13. Obligations of the Buyer

The Buyer undertakes to:

• provide accurate information when ordering;
• observe the selected pick-up slot;
• use the Platform in accordance with these Terms and the applicable legislation;
• refrain from interfering with the proper functioning of the Platform or the rights of the Sellers and third parties.

Article 14. Intellectual property

The Pepobio trademark, the logo, the structure and the elements of the Platform are protected. Any unauthorised reproduction or use is prohibited. The content published by the Sellers (texts, photographs, descriptions) remains their property or that of their rights holders; the Sellers warrant that they hold the necessary rights.

Article 15. Personal data

The processing of users' personal data is described in the Privacy Policy of Pepobio, available at https://pepo.bio/fr-be/confidentialite, which forms an integral part of these Terms.

Article 16. Force majeure

No Party may be held liable for a failure resulting from a case of force majeure or a fortuitous event rendering performance impossible. The obligations affected are suspended for the duration of the event, the Party concerned informing the other as soon as possible.

Article 17. Miscellaneous provisions

17.1 Severability

The possible nullity or unlawfulness of a clause does not affect the validity of the other provisions of these Terms.

17.2 Headings

Headings are used for ease of reading and do not affect the scope of the provisions.

17.3 Language

These Terms are available in French, Dutch and English. In the event of any divergence of interpretation, the French version prevails, without prejudice to the Consumer's right to obtain the information concerning them in their own language where the law so requires.

Article 18. Amicable settlement and mediation

In the event of a dispute, the Parties shall first endeavour to find an amicable solution.

The Consumer may have recourse to the Consumer Mediation Service (Boulevard du Roi Albert II 8, 1000 Brussels, https://mediationconsommateur.be).

Article 19. Applicable law and jurisdiction

These Terms are governed by Belgian law. Any dispute falls within the jurisdiction of the courts and tribunals of the judicial district of Brussels, without prejudice to the mandatory consumer protection rules allowing the Consumer to bring proceedings before the courts of their domicile.

Article 20. Legal information relating to the Platform

As a provider of an online intermediary service, Pepobio may be subject to certain obligations under Regulation (EU) 2022/2065 (“Digital Services Act”) and Regulation (EU) 2019/1150 (“Platform to Business”). Pepobio falls within the category of small enterprises and makes a point of contact available at support@pepo.bio, in French, Dutch or English.

Point of contact for any question relating to these Terms and to the operation of the Platform: support@pepo.bio.

End of the General Terms and Conditions of Use and Sale. The French version is the authoritative version.

Annex. Model withdrawal form

Complete and return this form only if you wish to withdraw from an eligible contract. Address it to the Seller concerned (their details appear on the order confirmation and the Seller's page). You may also exercise withdrawal online, without this form, from “My orders” using the withdrawal button.

• To [name of the Seller, geographical address and, where applicable, email address of the Seller]:
• I/We (*) hereby give notice that I/We (*) withdraw from my/our (*) contract of sale of the following goods:
• Ordered on (*) / received on (*):
• Name of consumer(s):
• Address of consumer(s):
• Signature of consumer(s) (only if this form is notified on paper):
• Date:

(*) Delete as appropriate.