GAN Project Terms of Service
Last edited 2026-08-19
AntsCanada's role in the GAN Project:
AntsCanada operates the GAN Project's listings and introduction service, but is not a party to any sale made through it. GAN Farmers operate independently: they are not employees, franchisees, contractors, or representatives of AntsCanada. AntsCanada does not earn any commission, fee, or percentage on GAN Project sales. Every payment for a queen or colony goes directly and entirely to the GAN Farmer, agreed and exchanged privately between the GAN Farmer and the GAN Host.
1. What the GAN Project is
The GAN Project is AntsCanada's listings and introduction service. It connects GAN Farmers who keep and propagate ant colonies with GAN Hosts in the same city, state or province, and country. The platform does not buy, sell, ship, or take possession of any ants at any point. Every sale is a private transaction directly between a GAN Farmer and a GAN Host.
2. In-state, in-region capture and sale only
Laws in many jurisdictions restrict or prohibit transporting live insects across state or provincial lines without specific permits. To keep the GAN Project within those bounds:
- GAN Farmers may only list ants that were collected within their own registered city, state/province, and country, never transported in from elsewhere.
- GAN Farmers certify this for every individual listing at the time they create it.
- The platform only shows a GAN Farmer's listings to GAN Hosts browsing that exact same state/province and country.
3. In-person exchange only, no shipping or courier
Every completed sale must be an in-person, hand-to-hand exchange between the GAN Farmer and the GAN Host, within the same city, state/province, and country both parties are registered in. Ants listed through the GAN Project may not be mailed, couriered, or otherwise shipped to complete a sale.
Meeting in person, safely:
- Meet in a public place whenever possible: a park, coffee shop, or similar.
- Bring a friend or family member along, especially the first time you meet someone.
- Trust your judgement. If something feels off, it's fine to reschedule or decline.
4. GAN Farmer responsibilities
- Raise and care for colonies properly. New queens should be started in a standard test tube setup or another proven method.
- Keep listings current: mark a listing sold, or remove it, as soon as it's no longer available.
- Only list ants collected within your own registered location (see Section 2).
- Conduct yourself professionally, both in your listing descriptions and when meeting a GAN Host.
A note on listing readiness: colonies are generally a stronger, safer sale once they've produced at least one worker, rather than as a single unincubated queen. This isn't a strict platform requirement, but it's worth keeping in mind when deciding what to list and how to describe it.
5. GAN Host responsibilities
- Only enquire about listings if you're genuinely located in that same city/state/province and country, and intend to complete the exchange in person there.
- Follow the safety guidance above when meeting a GAN Farmer.
- Communicate directly and promptly with the GAN Farmer once they reach out.
6. What the platform does and doesn't do
The GAN Project logs enquiries and notifies the GAN Farmer, who makes first contact. It does not negotiate price, verify a shipment (since none is permitted), or guarantee the condition, health, or legality of any specific colony or queen. Price, quantity, timing, and the actual exchange are agreed directly between the GAN Farmer and the GAN Host, outside the platform, by email.
7. Your responsibility to comply with the law
GAN Farmers and GAN Hosts are each individually responsible for knowing and following the laws that apply to collecting, possessing, and transferring ants in their own location, including any state, provincial, or federal permit requirements for the specific species involved. Using the GAN Project does not substitute for that responsibility, and the platform disclaims liability for a user's failure to comply with applicable law.
8. Accurate location information
GAN Farmers and GAN Hosts agree to provide their real, current location. This is what keeps listings and enquiries correctly scoped to the same region. Misrepresenting your location to evade the in-state-only rule above is a violation of these terms and may result in account suspension.
9. Changes to these terms
These terms may be updated from time to time. Material changes will be reflected by the "last edited" date at the top of this page.