1. Entities covered by this Annex that participate in group purchasing activities through buying groups shall ensure that the activities of such buying groups are carried out in a manner consistent with this Annex.
2. No Province shall direct the procurement activities of buying groups in a manner inconsistent with this Annex.
3. Buying group means a group of two or more members which combines the purchasing requirements and activities of the members of the group into one joint procurement process. Buying groups include cooperative arrangements in which individual members administer the procurement function for specific contracts for the group, and more formal corporate arrangements in which the buying group administers procurement for group members. Buying groups may involve a variety of entities, including public sector, private sector and not-for-profit organizations.