Ethics and Compliance
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We seek to create positive impact beyond the direct benefits of our life-changing medicines. We embed ethical behaviour in all our company activities and across our value chain and promote ethical, transparent and inclusive policies, both internally and with our partners and suppliers.
Building trust by demonstrating integrity, transparency and fair treatment is central to everything we do and supports our ability to operate, innovate and deliver healthcare for patients. Our shared Values underpin all our activities and serve as a compass to guide us.
We ensure robust governance through adherence to legislation, regulations, policies and standards and ensure ethical and transparent conduct across our business activities and value chain.
We also drive the highest standards of conduct and accountability beyond compliance, including, but not limited to, anti-bribery and anti-corruption, responsible sales and marketing, patient safety and product quality, use of human tissue and animals for research, human rights, and building supplier capabilities to uphold high social standards.
Code of Ethics and Global Standards
Our Code of Ethics (the Code), and its supporting Global Standards, embodies our Values including expected behaviours, principles and policies. It is the foundation of our global compliance programme. The Code covers global policies on: Science, Interactions, Workplace and Sustainability. It applies to all Executive and Non-Executive Directors, officers, employees and contractors, empowering them to make the right decisions in the best interests of the Group, our communities and those we serve.
A Finance Code complements the Code of Ethics and applies to the Chief Financial Officer (CFO), the Group’s principal accounting officers (including key finance staff in all overseas subsidiaries) and all managers in the Finance function.
The Code of Ethics and Finance Code ask employees to report possible violations and provide information on how to do so, including via the AZ Ethics helpline and website which are also available to third parties – including anonymously where permitted by local law.
We continue to foster a culture where employees can speak their minds, with strong first-line oversight (and related reporting) as well as targeted second-line monitoring to identify concerns early and use learnings to improve our programmes. Our Pulse survey enables management and Board Directors to understand the views and sentiments of our employees, including the proportion of employees who feel comfortable speaking up at work.
AZethics
We value speaking up as part of our ethical business culture. We want anyone who has a concern about our ethics or conduct to report it without delay. With our AZethics platform, we are making it easier for individuals to make a report using a simple, one-step intake form and the option to remain anonymous where permitted by local law. Internally, we also encourage a culture of transparent reporting on concerns to the relevant manager, HR or Compliance. We are committed to investigating and responding to all concerns of alleged misconduct, breaches of law, or policy that are raised to us. Anyone who raises a potential breach in good faith is fully supported by management on a confidential basis (subject to disclosure obligations in local markets) and we do not tolerate retaliation.
Anti-bribery and anti-corruption
We do not tolerate bribery or any other form of corruption. Potential bribery and corruption risk factors vary, for example by geography, the nature of the business, and the role of third-party vendors, as well as over time. Preventing bribery and corruption is a focus of our third-party risk management and due diligence processes, as well as our monitoring and audit programmes. Our Anti-Bribery and Anti-Corruption Global Standard outlines our key anti-bribery and anti-corruption principles and is complemented by additional Global Standards and local requirements.
Responsible sales and marketing
Our compliance professionals advise on and monitor adherence to our Code and policies, working with local staff to ensure we meet our commitment to high ethical standards. Nominated signatories review product promotional materials and activities to ensure compliance with regulations and codes, ensuring that information is accurate and balanced.
Patient safety and product quality
We maintain strict quality controls, follow global regulatory standards, and monitor product safety throughout our processes to deliver safe, effective, and high quality medicines to patients worldwide.
Animals in research
The responsible use of animals is a vital part of biomedical research and product safety testing, where suitable alternatives are not available. At the centre of our commitment to quality science and animal welfare are the Replacement, Reduction and Refinement of animals in research (the 3Rs).
Human rights
Our human rights principles support the basic rights of all people, such as the right to health, freedom from slavery, and privacy. Our Code of Ethics, Human Rights Statement and Expectations of Third Parties commit us to respecting and promoting international human rights, both within our own operations and our wider spheres of influence. To that end, we integrate human rights considerations into our processes and practices. We are also committed to ensuring that there is no modern slavery or human trafficking in any part of our business, including our value chain. Our human rights policies are designed to ensure we consider the impact of our operations on all human rights including those of the communities around our operations. The output of our work to mitigate human rights risks is detailed in our Modern Slavery Statement, which is published annually.
Payment transparency
By offering transparency on financial arrangements with healthcare professionals (HCPs) and healthcare organisations (HCOs), we aim to enhance understanding of the value and necessity of these relationships. Such interactions are crucial for developing new medicines and facilitating vital information exchanges within the medical community.
Clinical trial transparency
As a science-led pharmaceutical company, our clinical research is vital for developing innovative, life-changing medicines.
We have a long-standing commitment to make information about our clinical research publicly available. We believe that being transparent about our research and development, including our clinical trials, is serving the best interests of patients, their relatives, caregivers, healthcare professionals, researchers and the public.
Supplier management
Employees and contractors sourcing goods and services on behalf of AstraZeneca must adhere to our Global Standard for Procuring Goods and Services. We monitor supplier compliance with our Expectations of Third Parties through assessments and improvement programmes, including the 3PRM system. Before and after contracting with third parties, we evaluate their reputation and actions to ensure there is alignment with our standards and address any concerns or changes required.
Data privacy
We value the personal data entrusted to us and are committed to handling it (collecting, using, retaining, and disclosing) fairly, transparently, and securely. Our Data Privacy Global Standard outlines requirements for processing personal data, aligning with and sometimes exceeding applicable laws and regulations.