Code of Conduct
This Code of Conduct represents the guideline for our daily work.
The behavioral guidelines of this Code of Conduct are intended to serve as an orientation and “inner compass” for all individual employees of companies of the Nordmark Group (“Nordmark”). Each and every one of us is responsible for our own actions and must ensure that we comply with the applicable rules and regulations. It is therefore essential that every single employee is familiar with our Code of Conduct and complies with it in terms of a self-commitment. All managers should set a good example and provide their employees with advice and support.
We expect our customers, suppliers and service providers to respect and to support the below mentioned values, too.
Quality and safety of our products
Safe and high-quality products are the foundation of our company.
Our commitment to the well-being of patients is reflected in the quality and safety of our products. We strive to meet the highest standards for the products we manufacture. Our aim is to ensure the trust and satisfaction of our patients and customers.
As a manufacturer of active ingredients and medicinal products of biological and biotechnological origin, we are subject to particularly high regulatory requirements and quality standards, compliance with which must be our top priority. We maintain a sustainable quality management system that ensures the consistent conformity of our products and services. Through responsible, sustainable and environmentally conscious actions, every employee must protect the reputation of our company and protect its public image from damage.
The health and safety of patients is our top priority. We therefore identify and assess potential risks in the use of our products at an early stage and communicate this information clearly and transparently. We use appropriate instructions and warnings to ensure that our products are used correctly.
We are vigilant and take precautions to protect our products, components and ingredients from the risk of adulteration, counterfeiting or theft for the purpose of illegal resale.
Working environment
We offer an open working environment with dignity in which our employees feel valued and respected.
Our company treats all its employees fairly and openly, with understanding and tolerance. We expect all employees to treat colleagues, business partners and third parties in an objective, friendly, fair and dignified manner. We therefore do not tolerate any harassment, threats or coercion towards employees or discrimination against them on the grounds of ethnicity, nationality, descent, gender, marital status, pregnancy, faith or world view, political views, trade union membership, age, disability or sexual orientation. We recognize and value diversity and want to integrate it into our corporate culture.
Nordmark respects the legal rights of employees to freely associate, join or not join trade unions, seek representation and join a works council and bargain collectively.
At the same time, we are committed to respecting and protecting personal data and information. The confidentiality of non-public information will be maintained in accordance with data protection and confidentiality laws.
Fair competition without corruption
We focus on innovation, quality and fair competition without corruption.
Our company competes for customer orders with products and services at reasonable prices. It is therefore unnecessary and contradicts our ambitions to influence or distort competition through corrupt actions. Corruption is illegal and must therefore not be undertaken, encouraged or tolerated. We expect the same from all our business partners.
The principle therefore applies that no one may offer, promise, grant, demand or accept bribes or other illegal inducements, either from ourselves or through third parties, if this was able to influence business or official decisions.
Management shall ensure that Nordmark has adequate systems in place to systematically prevent corruption and comply with all relevant laws.
Medical professionals (such as doctors, pharmacists, nurses, researchers or laboratory personnel) or third parties must never be paid or promised any remuneration or other monetary benefit for prescribing, using or recommending our products. We have no influence on the independent and professional assessment of medical professionals and their procurement or prescription decisions.
In our day-to-day business, we handle gifts and invitations offered to us by customers or third parties with care and professionalism. We refuse all gifts or invitations that could influence our interests in business decisions. If there is any doubt, we refuse. If we accept gifts and invitations, these can only be of low value and everyone can know which gifts and invitations we have accepted.
Nordmark respects international trade law and complies with the applicable trade and customs laws of the countries in which we operate. We observe the applicable regulations on import and export controls, embargoes, trade and financial restrictions as well as the anti-boycott regulations applicable in Germany.
Internal monitoring systems ensure that we only supply trustworthy customers.
Avoiding conflicts of interest
The interest of the company is the guideline for our daily work.
All employees should avoid any activity within or outside the company in their work if this leads or was to lead to a conflict with the interest of the company.
If an employee wishes to participate in a company or become active on a supervisory board or in specialist committees, the facts must be disclosed to their line manager and the Compliance Officer, and it must be clarified whether a conflict of interest exists. The decisive factor is whether the participation or activity is possible without damaging our personal reputation or the reputation of Nordmark.
Business matters should never be influenced by personal interests or considerations. No employee may use his or her position or Nordmark property for personal gain or other enrichment.
Supply chain
For the benefit of patients, we regard our suppliers as partners in the realization of our promises.
We have high ethical standards that we want to live by consistently. Nordmark is particularly committed to respecting human rights in its sphere of influence. We are also committed to the protection of biodiversity, the purity of nature and the preservation of our natural heritage. We therefore also expect our suppliers to share our attitudes with regard to the protection of the environment and human rights and to ensure appropriate security for themselves and within their supply chain.
This applies in particular with regard to slavery and human trafficking, child labour, compliance with the legal working conditions applicable to them, including adequate safety standards and measures to protect the health of workers, a non-discriminatory and dignified working environment and the avoidance and minimization of harmful impacts on the environment and the communities in which they operate.
We support and encourage our suppliers to monitor and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
We take care of our suppliers through conscientious selection and cooperation. We ensure that we can adequately audit our supply chain, including the traceability of raw material sources, to support legal and sustainable sourcing.
At the same time, we protect our intellectual property and that of others.
Compliance and Management
We want a culture of responsible action and want to constantly improve.
To ensure that the guidelines described in this Code of Conduct become the basis of our daily work, we provide sufficient financial, human, and technical resources.
This Code of Conduct is an integral part of Nordmark's compliance management system. It also includes regular training for all employees.
We strive for continuous improvement and take any necessary corrective measures.
We promote open communication and direct dialog with our employees.
The management identifies and ensures compliance with all relevant laws, regulations, rules, ordinances, permits, licenses, approvals, orders, standards and corresponding customer requirements. The company documents their fulfillment as well as the fulfillment of this Code of Conduct and maintains them as evidence.
Government authorities and other public bodies strictly monitor compliance with legal and regulatory requirements. We are cooperative and support official investigations within the framework of legal requirements.
If you have any concerns, all Nordmark employees are free to contact our ombudsperson via the whistleblower protection system.
Contact persons and contact
In case of concerns, you as our customer, supplier or service provider do not hesitate to contact our ombudsman. Please find the contact details:
Datenschutz nord GmbH
Konsul-Smidt-Str. 88
28217 Bremen
Germany
Telefon: +49 421 6966 32 349
E-Mail-Adresse: compliance(at)dsn-group.de