Compliance
The Nippon Soda Group ensures corporate activities are undertaken in compliance with laws, regulations and corporate ethics by making all employees aware of the Nippon Soda Group Code of Conduct. Our efforts to ensure business management that emphasizes regulatory compliance include the establishment of the Compliance Committee and proper implementation of the internal reporting system. Through these efforts, we enhance the internal control system and continue to be a company trusted by society.
The Nippon Soda Group Code of Conduct
| 1. Compliance with laws, rules, regulations and corporate ethics | (1) Fair behavior (2) Compliance with corporate ethics (3) Prompt corrective action and strict disciplinary action in response to the violation of a law, rule or regulation |
|---|---|
| 2. Relationship with society | (1) Contribution to society (2) Compliance with all applicable laws (3) Restrictions on political and other donations (4) Severance of relationships with antisocial forces (5) Environmental preservation and protection (6) Compliance with laws and regulations related to security trade control and imports and exports |
| 3. Relationship with customers, business partners and competitors | (1) Safety of products (2) Compliance with the Antimonopoly Act (3) Compliance with suppliers’ guidelines for fair transactions and the Subcontract Act (4) Prevention of unfair competition (5) Business entertainment and gifts (6) Prevention of bribery of foreign public officials (7) Appropriate advertising |
| 4. Relationship with shareholders and investors | (1) Disclosure of management information (2) Prohibition of insider trading |
| 5. Relationship with individuals | (1) Respect for human rights and prohibition of discrimination (2) Prohibition of harassment (3) Protection of privacy (4) Safety and hygiene at worksites (5) Compliance with labor laws |
| 6. Relationship with the Company and its assets | (1) Compliance with working regulations (2) Proper accounting (3) Conflicts of interest (4) Prohibition of political and religious activities (5) Management of corporate secrets (6) Appropriate use of corporate assets (7) Appropriate use of information systems (8) Protection of intellectual property |
| 7. Supplementary provisions | (1) Scope of application of this Code of Conduct (2) Revision and abolition of this Code of Conduct (3) Violation consultation hotline (4) Penalties |
Compliance Promotion System
Nippon Soda has a Compliance Committee, which reports directly to the President, to ensure corporate activities in compliance with laws, regulations and corporate ethics throughout the Group. The Compliance Committee comprises executive officers as its members. At each department, branch, worksite and Group company, a staff member in charge of compliance is appointed.
The Nippon Soda Group has established a consultation desk, whereby an employee of the Group who has committed an infraction or becomes aware of an infraction by another employee, can consult directly with the Compliance Committee Secretariat, an outside attorney or an Audit and Supervisory Committee member.
Composition of the Compliance Committee
Compliance Promotion and Education
We have formulated the Nippon Soda Group Code of Conduct, which specifies matters to be observed by the Nippon Soda Group in order to carry out sound corporate activities. This Code of Conduct is distributed to the executives and all employees of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries, and we provide ongoing training to ensure thorough compliance with laws and regulations. We conduct legal education and training related to our operations once a year or more, and in FY 2022, we conducted a total of 13 major compliance training sessions for the Company and major Group companies. In addition, we conduct an annual compliance survey of all employees to determine their understanding of the Code of Conduct.
Education on laws and regulations related to chemical and product safety
Nippon Soda provides educational and explanatory sessions on laws and regulations related to the management of chemical substances on a regular basis.
| No. | Programs and contents | Site and date | Number of participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Education for new/transferred employees （Content: Chemical substances laws and regulations, Agricultural Chemicals Regulation Law, Poisonous and Deleterious Substances Control Act, UN Recommendations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods, product labels, SDS, YC, internal rules, etc.） |
Head Office First session：August 2 and 17, 2021 Second session：August 20 and 24, 2021 |
24 22 |
| 2 |
Veterinary pharmaceuticals education for new/transferred employees （Content: Management system, internal standards, laws and regulations, etc.） |
Head Office May 12, 2021 |
1 |
| 3 |
Pharmaceuticals education for new/transferred employees （Content: Fundamental pharmaceuticals education, Act on Securing Quality, Efficacy and Safety of Products Including Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices violations, and recurrence prevention measures） |
Head Office May 7, 2021 |
4 |
| 4 |
Pharmaceuticals education （Content: Responsibilities, management system, changes to certificate of approval for manufacture and sale, revisions to internal standards, FY 2021 achievements and FY 2022 plans, safety management information, etc.） |
Head Office and Nihongi Plant June 8, 2021 |
21 |
| 5 | Supplementary briefing on new JIS version of SDS for ExESS |
Nihongi Plant, Takaoka Plant, Mizushima Plant, and Chiba Plant May 6, 2021 |
10 |
| 6 |
Briefing on revisions to laws and ordinances （Content: Revisions to the Act on the Evaluation of Chemical Substances and Regulation of Their Manufacture, etc., the Industrial Health and Safety Act, the Poisonous and Deleterious Substances Control Act, the Act on Confirmation, etc. of Release Amounts of Specific Chemical Substances in the Environment and Promotion of Improvements to the Management Thereof, the Fire Service Act, and the Food Sanitation Act, revisions to JIS for SDS and product labels, and revisions to overseas laws, etc.） |
Head Office February 15 and 21, 2022 4 plants and 2 research centers January 19, February 10 and 18, 2022 |
57 79 |
Significant fines for violation of laws and regulations related to the provision or use of products and services
No relevant events occurred.
Political contributions
As outlined in the Nippon Soda Group Code of Conduct, political contributions are only made in compliance with relevant laws and ordinances and using appropriate methods and procedures.
Nippon Soda’s political contributions in FY 2022 were ¥9,091.
