Compliance

Policy and Basic Approach

The Nippon Kayaku Group naturally views compliance as a matter of observing laws, internal regulations and industry rules, as is the social norm and as society demands. However, we broaden our interpretation of compliance to include viewing it as a means of continually repaying the trust of our various stakeholders.
Furthermore, by way of a Group code of behavior, we have fixed our Charter of Conduct and Code of Conduct to provide the spirit with which our business activities can help fulfil our social role of contributing to wider society.
We are also working on achieving thorough compliance across our business activities, and further promoting compliance activities under strong top management leadership.

Nippon Kayaku Group Charter of Conduct and Code of Conduct

After underlining compliance as our “top priority for business activities”, we fixed our Nippon Kayaku Group Charter of Conduct and Code of Conduct in the year 2000. We revised the contents in 2011 in line with ISO26000 (Guidance Regulations on the Social Responsibilities of Organizations), and again in 2020 when resolving to voluntarily implement measures towards achieving a sustainable society.

The Nippon Kayaku Group Charter of Conduct

Business activities

  1. The Nippon Kayaku Group will provide products and services that satisfy customers through Communication with customers and the provision of appropriate information, giving due consideration to the safety and reliability of its products and services.
  2. In all its business activities, the Nippon Kayaku Group will comply with all relevant laws and regulations, including competition law, the spirit of these laws, and internal regulations, and will engage in fair, transparent, and free competition. We will also maintain sound relationships with the governing authorities in all regions.
  3. The Nippon Kayaku Group respects human rights in all its business activities, and will not discriminate or tolerate any inappropriately behavior for reasons based on gender, age, nationality, race, religion, or disability.
  4. The Nippon Kayaku Group will appropriately manage and utilize the company’s assets to improve the efficiency of its business activities and strive for continuous development.
  5. The Nippon Kayaku Group implements systematic crisis management in preparation for the actions of anti-social forces that threaten the lives of citizens and corporate activities, as well as for terrorism, cyber attacks, natural disasters, and other events.

Relationship with society

  1. The Nippon Kayaku Group respects the cultures, religions and traditions of each country and region, works in harmony with society, and contributes to the development of society as a good corporate citizen.
  2. The Nippon Kayaku Group will disclose information on its business activities to stakeholders in a timely and appropriate manner based on objective facts. We will also strive to increase corporate value through constructive dialogue with stakeholders.
  3. In order to contribute to a sustainable society and the environment, the Nippon Kayaku Group strives to conduct its business activities in harmony with the natural environment by constantly taking into account the impact on the global environment, not only complying with relevant laws and regulations, but also establishing its own voluntary standards.

Information handling

  1. The Nippon Kayaku Group will appropriately protect the information it possesses through its business activities and take all possible measures for information management. In addition, we recognize the value of information assets and respect the intellectual property rights of others.

Relationships between the company and individuals

  1. The Nippon Kayaku Group complies with labor-related laws and regulations, ensures a safe and comfortable working environment, and respects the basic human rights, diversity, character, and individuality of individuals.

Roles of top management and thorough adherence to this charter

  1. Those involved in the management of the Nippon Kayaku Group recognize that realizing the spirit of this charter is their own role and responsibility, and will thoroughly disseminate it to all employees. In addition, we will listen to the opinions of people inside and outside the group, establish effective systems within the group, and ensure thorough implementation of corporate ethics. In the event of a situation that contravenes the spirit of this charter, we will clarify both inside and outside the company our stance of solving the problem, investigate the cause, and work to prevent any recurrence.
The Nippon Kayaku Group Charter of Conduct and Code of Conduct
The Nippon Kayaku Group Charter of Conduct and Code of Conduct

High Ethical Standards and Transparency in our Medical Business

Pharmaceutical companies are demanded to constantly ensure high ethical standards and transparency; build relationships of mutual trust with external stakeholders such as medical, dental and pharmaceutical researchers, medical professionals, wholesalers and patient groups; and work towards optimal and ethical medical care from the patient’s standpoint.
As the standard by which to judge whether our actions align with the aims of the JPMA Code, we have fixed a Nippon Kayaku Code of Practice. Thus are we further clarifying the corporate ethics and compliance awareness campaigns which form the bedrock of our business activities, and promoting respect for those key areas in the conduct of business and from a high ethical standpoint.

System

In order to ensure thorough compliance across the entire Group, we have set up an Ethics Committee as an advisory body to our Sustainable Management Meeting under the guidance and supervision of our Board of Directors. This Committee meets twice a year, and on a further ad hoc basis when necessary.
Led by an Executive Director with an Official Post nominated by our President, the Ethics Committee is comprised of representatives from every business unit’s planning department, and from every section of our General Administration Department which is unattached to any business unit. Its remit is to decide on policies and specifics related to ensuring compliance with our Charter of Conduct, Code of Conduct and Basic Anti-Bribery Policy, thereby preventing conflicts of interest and corruption emanating from unreasonably approaching government employees.
It must also examine and decide upon responses to matters either arising in consultation or actually occurring, and the relevant recurrence prevention measures. The most important matters discussed by this Committee, including anti-corruption matters, are forwarded to the Sustainable Management Meeting and even the Board of Directors, who provide related feedback.

System

Internal Audits

In line with our basic policy on internal system structure, the Nippon Kayaku Group has set up an Audit Division, under the direct supervision of the President, to contribute towards strengthened corporate governance in the form of anti-corruption stances, prevention of unfair or erroneous practices, business operational reform, and asset safeguarding. Based on the annual audit plan approved by the Sustainable Management Meeting does this Audit Division internally audit every division and section of both domestic and overseas Group companies once every three years. Such internal audits involve assessing the systems for business, operational, financial and legal management, as well as observation of ethical standards and anti-corruption measures. Audit results are not only promptly shared with the President, auditors, and the Audit & Supervisory Board, but periodically reported to the Board of Directors via our internal database.

Targets and Results

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Key sustainability issues Corresponding SDGs Action plans Indicators(KPI) FY2025 Targets Results FY2024 Initiative-related Topics
FY2023 FY2024
Ensuring Compliance PEACE, JUSTICE AND STRONG INSTITUTIONS
  • Exercise thorough compliance, which is a basic principle for conducting corporate activities, and engaging in fair business operations
  • Maintain and enhance an open corporate culture with a high sense of ethics
Number of serious compliance violations* 0 0 0
  • Zero serious compliance violations.
  • FY2024's mandatory compliance training took the theme of "Workplace Communication," and was delivered to all domestic group companies.
  • We spoke to overseas group companies without a Compliance Whistleblower Hotline and ensured such hotlines were set up. We aim to expand hotline use through increasing awareness and training in FY2025.
Compliance training take-up rate 100% 96% 97.7%
Percentage of group companies with compliance / whistleblowing hotlines 100% 83% 100%
  • *Number of matters judged extremely important by the Ethics Committee

Initiatives

Internal Whistleblowing System

With the installation of its Internal Whistleblowing System and the setting up of its Compliance Hotline, Nippon Kayaku is working on prevention and early detection of unfair practices, and relevant corrective measures.
Our Compliance Hotline is available to all domestic Nippon Kayaku Group executives, employees (including contracted and part-time employees), temp staff and retired employees (up to a year after they have left). Overseas Group companies, meanwhile, have set up their own internal whistleblowing systems.
Whistleblowing reports may pertain to malpractice, such as law violations, unjust practices, violations of internal regulations such as the Group Charter of Conduct and Code of Conduct, and actions contravening corporate morals. They may also pertain to human rights violations, harassment, bribery, unfair trading, and more generic corrupt practices. When it comes to malpractice, or the risk of malpractice occurring in Nippon Kayaku Business, we are ready to accept a whistleblowing report or consultation at any time.
Our Compliance Hotline, meanwhile, runs to both our Ethics Committee Office (the Internal Control Management Division’s Compliance Manager) and an external law firm, and allows whistleblowers to choose anonymity or otherwise when reporting or consulting. Reports may be made via telephone, email, document or interview, with email and document submissions accepted 24/7.
Any report or consultation accepted by the Compliance Hotline reception desk will be examined by the Ethics Committee Office, which will then decide on whether to investigate the facts. If, during any investigation, evidence of malpractice becomes clear, the Ethics Committee Office will promptly devise measures for corrective response and recurrence prevention, and subsequently notify the whistleblower of the investigation results.
Our Internal Whistleblowing System guarantees both confidentiality and anonymity, and our Regulations on Handling Internal Whistleblowing Reports specifically state that the whistleblower shall not receive any kind of negative treatment as a consequence of reporting or consulting.
We are raising awareness of our whistleblowing system and Compliance Hotline through group sessions, E-learning, internal portal site announcements, workplace posters, and the distribution of portable cards.

Flow of Reporting and Consulting
Flow of Reporting and Consulting
Contents of Reports and Consultations made over the Last Five Years

FY2024 saw a total of 25 reports(non-consolidated: 17; group companies: 8)and consultations made, with the facts of every one investigated and corrective measures deployed where necessary. Of those 25, none were of sufficiently critical nature to impact business operations. Through internal company training will we continue to promote awareness of our Internal Whistleblowing System, and encourage employees to use it as we strive towards prevention, early detection and containment of malpractice and misconduct.

Scroll sideways for an overview of the table below.
Contents of Complaints and Consultations Covering Unit 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024
Harrassment (power harrassment, sexual harrassment, etc.) non-consolidated cases 6 2 7 16 8
Group companies cases - - - - 5
Violations of company rules or manners non-consolidated cases 0 0 2 3 6
Group companies cases - - - - 3
Work or labor-related non-consolidated cases 1 1 3 5 3
Group companies cases - - - - 0
Others non-consolidated cases 0 1 4 3 0
Group companies cases - - - - 0
Total non-consolidated cases 7 4 16 27 25

Our Compliance Hotline for Suppliers

The Nippon Kayaku Group has set up a Compliance Hotline for Suppliers for matters related to law violations. We ask that suppliers confirm Points 1 to 5 below before reporting or consulting via Point Number 6.

  1. Available to
    Executives and employees who, in the course of business, are involved in trading with domestic Nippon Kayaku Group companies
  2. Focusing on
    Law violations or unethical acts committed by executives and staff of domestic Nippon Kayaku Group companies, or the discovery of readiness to commit such acts
  3. Reports and consultations accepted by
    The Ethics Committee Office (Internal Control Management Division), Nippon Kayaku Co., Ltd.
  4. Requests regarding reports and consultations
    All whistleblowers should state their name, workplace and department. Whistleblowers unable to give their name can make reports and consultation requests anonymously, but this may impede the establishment of facts and the wider investigation, as well as render it impossible to report back on investigation results and recurrence prevention measures taken.
  5. Protection of whistleblowers and consultation-seekers
    All users of our Compliance Hotline for Suppliers will have their personal information strictly handled in line with our Policy for Protection of Personal Information. Such information will only be used as necessary in the conduct of the investigation. Furthermore, whistleblowers will not receive any blowback for the act of having made a report or requested a consultation.
  6. To contact us
    Reports and consultation requests should be made to the Compliance Hotline for Suppliers.
Numbers of Reports and Consultations

Our Compliance Hotline for Suppliers has been in place since FY2021, during which it received no enquiries. FY2024 saw four reports and enquiries received. The case was not of sufficiently critical nature to impact business operations. We will continue to earnestly take on board the comments of our suppliers, and seek to improve the fairness and transparency of our trading activities.

Number of Whistleblowing Complaints and Consultations from Suppliers
Scroll sideways for an overview of the table below.
Whistleblowing Covering Unit 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024
Whistleblowing complaints and consultations from suppliers non-consolidated cases - 0 1 0 4

Internal Instillation

So that the entire Group is instilled with awareness of the need for thorough compliance and secure implementation, and that the contents of our Charter of Conduct and Code of Conduct can be checked at any time, we have produced some portable cards imprinted with both the aforementioned as well as our corporate vision. We have also produced a brochure in the six languages spoken by the countries in which we have set up base (Japanese, English, Chinese, Spanish, Malay and Czech). Both the cards and brochures have been distributed to every Group executive and employee.
It is also the case that every October is Nippon Kayaku’s “Compliance Month,” which sees our Ethics Committee Chairman pen a message aimed at every domestic Group company employee in our internal bulletin. It also sees us conduct a Compliance Consciousness Survey so we can continually monitor the degree of compliance instillation and link to subsequent improvements.
Compliance activities for our overseas group companies are implemented in accordance with the relevant country’s laws and business customs. In China, for example, all our group company chief executives and persons in-charge of ethics gather each year for an Ethics Managers Meeting. This meeting provides a chance to discuss compliance initiatives, reports of issues, the extraction of problems and issues, and relevant measures to be taken. In addition, legal representatives from our Internal Management Control Division and KSC* provide onsite compliance training to the employees of each group company. Going forward, based on each country’s situation, we will deepen the links between each group company and section as we aim for yet more effective and efficient global compliance activities.

  • *KSC is the abbreviation for Kayaku (Shanghai), our administrative company in China

Education and Training

The Nippon Kayaku Group conducts annual e-learning courses on its Charter of Conduct and Code of Conduct for all directors, employees (including contract and part-time employees) and temp staff. The program takes place every year as part of compliance training, and is based on the latest situations and case studies pertaining to the Charter of Conduct and Code of Conduct, and related themes, such as anti-bribery and anti-corruption, basic human rights, harassment, and how to use our internal whistleblowing system. We also use regular meetings at each workplace as opportunities to deliver case-study-based training and form study groups.
We also set up harassment prevention training for every executive and employee on an annual basis. The contents are the same for managers and non-managers alike, and involve sharing awareness of harassment definitions, case studies, preventative measures and responses to actual situations, as part of broader initiatives to increase awareness and prevent before the event.
In addition, to boost thorough compliance across the entire group, we provide compliance training for all group company directors to promote the acquisition of necessary knowledge from a managerial perspective.
So that training opportunities and programs can be provided to every employee, we mainly rely on E-learning methods and large group sessions at Group companies.

Training type Main contents Mainly aimed at FY Training format No. of times
Compliance Training (Yearly, Compulsory) Communication in the workplace Executives, employees, (including contracted and part-time employees), temp staff 2024 E-learning, group session 1
Sustainability Training(Mandatory) Basic Anti-Bribery and Anti-Corruption Policy; bans on provision and receipt of excess entertainment; actions banned under the ethical regulations for government employees Executives, employees, (including contracted and part-time employees), temp staff 2024 E-learning 1
Compliance Training Training delivered on Nippon Kayaku Group Charter of Conduct and Code of Conduct, and related themes
  • Harassment
  • fundamental Human Rights
  • Labor relations etc
Executives, employees, (including contracted and part-time employees), temp staff 2024 E-learning 6
Risk Management Training Biases which can affect judgment Executives, employees, (including contracted and part-time employees), temp staff 2024 E-learning 1
New Hire Training*1 Nippon Kayaku Group Compliance New hires 2024 Group session 1
New Manager Training*1 Nippon Kayaku Group Compliance New managers 2024 Group session 2
Overseas Transfer Training*2 Charter of Conduct and Code of Conduct, Basic Anti-Bribery Policy etc. Employees transferring overseas 2024 Interview, online 11
  • *1Held every year
  • *2Pre-departure training set up for employees transferring overseas

Our Compliance Consciousness Survey

Our Compliance Consciousness Survey has been conducted in conjunction with a contracted consultancy firm since FY2015. From the aggregated results and subsequent analysis do we extract the key compliance promotion issues for each company workplace and provide the relevant feedback, including improvement suggestions. That feedback is then referenced by each workplace when it draws up and fixes its Compliance Action Plan for the following financial year, thereby building PDCAs to improve compliance consciousness.

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