Our Ethics & Compliance Undertakings
As a global leader in food safety and quality services with the mission to protect consumers’ health, Mérieux NutriSciences Group is strongly committed to honest, legal, and ethical practices and conducting business with integrity and trustworthiness.
Mérieux NutriSciences is a leading supplier of food testing, quality and sustainability services, and has grown over the last 50 years on the best ethical values, the highest scientific knowledge and the most solid quality system to serve our public health mission. One of our most valuable assets is our reputation as a global leader committed to honest, legal, and ethical practices and conducting business with integrity and trustworthiness. Respecting this commitment to ethics and integrity is vital to carry out our work and serve our purpose: “Better Food. Better Health. Better World.
Nicolas Cartier, CEO
Doing business always in an ethical way in compliance with all regulations is a must for Mérieux NutriSciences and one of our guiding principles. In a world of transparency and greater attention on the impact of business activities on the society, Mérieux NutriSciences is proud to develop year after year an ambitious Compliance Program sponsored by the Executive Committee, implemented with the support of all managers and involving all our employees.
François d’Hautefeuille, General Counsel and Compliance Officer
Ethics & Compliance Program
General Principles
The goals of our Ethics & Compliance program are:
- To avoid conflicts of interest and to act openly, responsibly and within the confines of the law and internationally accepted guidelines.
- To promote the group Compliance Policies and the compliance culture within the organization
- To deploy and update our Ethics & Compliance training program addressed to all employees. All employees are required to do the Ethics & Compliance training and to confirm their understanding that any breaches of Mérieux NutriSciences’ Code of Conduct may result in disciplinary action.
TIC Council member’s commitments
Mérieux NutriSciences is a member of the TIC Council. As such, our Code of Conduct and Compliance Policies are consistent with the TIC Council’s Compliance Code.
Fight against corruption
Mérieux NutriSciences upholds a zero-tolerance policy in case of breach of ethics in particular with respect to corruption and bribery risks, in compliance with all laws, such as the French Sapin 2 Law and the US Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. Clear boundaries and efficient processes ensure that risks are managed effectively and that all employees are empowered to act to avoid any form of corruption. Any compromise on such principles can be harmful to employees, to Mérieux NutriSciences and the communities it serves.
Protection of personal data
Mérieux NutriSciences Group is committed to ensuring the protection of personal data we receive and process in our activities, in compliance with the personal data protection regulations. A Personal Data Privacy Program has been built to promote best practices and put in place the best standards.
The Group Ethics & Compliance Committee
Mérieux NutriSciences’ Ethics & Compliance program is supervised by the Group Ethics & Compliance Committee and led by the Compliance Officer in close cooperation with the Group Risk Manager.
The Group Ethics & Compliance Committee, has the ultimate oversight over compliance matters regarding Mérieux NutriSciences Group. It ensures implementation of the Code of Conduct and the Compliance Policies within the organization and advises management on all issues of business ethics.
The Group Ethics & Compliance Committee consists of the following members:
- Chair of the Committee: Nicolas Cartier, CEO
- Committee Secretary and Compliance Officer: François d’Hautefeuille
- CFO
- VP HR
- VP Quality & Operations
- Other executives or employees of the Group when required.
The Audit Committee is kept informed of the progress of the Ethics & Compliance program on a regular basis. The Audit Committee also reviews the effectiveness of the system of internal control during the year. In particular, it reviews and continues to seek to improve the process for identifying and evaluating the significant risks affecting the business and the policies and procedures by which these risks are managed.
Code of Conduct
The Code of Conduct defines the main principles of professional integrity and is an expression of the values that are shared throughout Mérieux NutriSciences, our various businesses and our affiliates. Referring to it should help anyone acting for Mérieux NutriSciences to make the correct decisions while carrying out their work.
Mérieux NutriSciences’ Code of Conduct offers guiding principles that revolve around seven main themes: quality of services, dealing with business partners, respect of company’s assets, communication and data protection, business records, commitments to employees and commitments for a sustainable world. The Code of Conduct applies to all of our employees, officers and directors and our affiliated companies.
All aspects of the Code of Conduct which are not specifically related to our employees must also be adhered to by contractors, consultants, freelancers, joint-venture partners, agents, subcontractors and anyone acting on behalf of, or representing, Mérieux NutriSciences.
Compliance Policies
Mérieux NutriSciences’ Code of Conduct is completed by Compliance Policies providing practical guidelines on the following topics:
- Anti-Corruption and Anti-Bribery
- Business Intermediaries
- Conflict of Interests
- Gifts and Hospitality
- Third Party Controls
- Group Ethics Committee
- Whistleblower Protection
- International Sanctions
- External Communications
- Intellectual Property Rights
- Confidentiality
- Data Privacy
- Data Retention
These Compliance Policies ensure all employees understand how to implement critical tasks and meet behavior expectations.
Ethics & Compliance Hotline
Employees and external parties are encouraged to speak out and report any concerns or suspicions that the Code of Conduct or any of the Compliance Policies is being violated.
All complaints are investigated thoroughly by the Compliance Officer with action taken as appropriate.
If you wish to report a suspected violation of the Code of Conduct, you can click on the link below to send a message to the Compliance Officer at compliance@mxns.com.
Ethics & Compliance Training
Mérieux NutriSciences has deployed a global Ethics & Compliance training program for all its employees, to ensure that the highest standards of integrity are applied to all our business activities worldwide.
A record of participation is kept to ensure that all our employees have completed the Quiz.
The training is available in English and 15 languages and is used as continual training and by new employees as part of their induction.