The highest standards of integrity should be upheld in all business dealings. Suppliers shall adopt a zero-tolerance policy prohibiting any and all forms of bribery, corruption, extortion and embezzlement.
Bribery and other forms of advantage for the purpose of obtaining an illegal or improper advantage must not be promised, offered, granted, given or accepted. It is prohibited to promise, offer, grant, give or accept anything of value for the purpose of obtaining or retaining business, directing business to any individual, or otherwise obtaining an improper advantage. Monitoring and enforcement procedures should be implemented to ensure compliance with anti-corruption laws.
All business dealings should be transparent and accurately recorded in the supplier's business books and records. Information about the participant’s labor, health and safety, environmental practices, business activities, structure, financial condition and performance should be disclosed in accordance with relevant regulations and current industry practice. It is not allowed to falsify records or misrepresent actual operations in the supply chain.
Intellectual property rights should be respected; transfers of technology or experience and knowledge should be conducted in a manner that protects intellectual property rights; and the information security of customers and suppliers should be protected.
5) Fair business, advertising and competition
Fair business, advertising and competitionstandards shall be upheld.
Unless prohibited by law, procedures should be developed and implemented to ensure that supplier and employee whistleblowers are protected and that their reports are kept confidential and anonymous. Suppliers shall have communication procedures in place for their employees to enable employees to raise any concerns without fear of retaliation.
Suppliers should have policies in place to reasonably ensure that tantalum, tin, tungsten and gold in the products they manufacture does not directly or indirectly fund or benefit armed groups that abuse human rights in the Democratic Republic of the Congo or surrounding countries. Suppliers should conduct due diligence on the origin and chain of custody of these minerals and provide their due diligence measures to customers upon request.
