Article 5 Term of office
1 The term of office of members and alternates shall be three years and shall be renewable in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 4.
2 At the end of the three-year period, members and alternates shall remain in office until a replacement is found or until their term of office is renewed.
3 The term of office of members and alternates shall lapse before the end of the three-year period
(a) in the event of their resignation, retirement or death;
(b) if the national bodies or authorities which put them forward as candidates request their replacement;
(c) if the Commission requests the replacement of members or alternates who are no longer capable of contributing effectively or who do not fulfil the obligations laid down in Article 7(6).
4 Members and alternates shall be replaced for the remainder of the three-year period in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 4. Notwithstanding Article 4(2), if only one member or one alternate representing national consumer organisations is to be replaced, the national bodies or authorities shall propose two new candidates of whom the Commission shall appoint one in accordance with Article 4(3).