Preamble
SRS Certification (hereinafter referred to as "SRS") is committed to providing credible, impartial, and professional certification services in the fields of organic agriculture, food safety, and sustainable development. This Code of Ethics applies to all directors, employees, auditors, partners, and representatives of SRS, regulating behaviors throughout the entire certification process and ensuring compliance with laws and regulations, international standards, as well as the expectations of clients, regulatory authorities, and the public.
1. Impartiality and Independence
All certification decisions shall be absolutely impartial and not affected by commercial, financial, or other improper pressures.
Establish and strictly implement a system for declaring and avoiding conflicts of interest for all personnel.
Maintain organizational, financial, and operational independence, and ensure that certification activities are not affected by ownership, investment, or business relationships.
Separate the positions of audit, decision-making, and supervision to eliminate interest-related associations and biases.
2. Integrity and Honesty
Conduct all activities with integrity, transparency, and probity, and do not forge, alter, or conceal audit evidence, data, or certification results.
Resolutely resist all forms of fraud, misrepresentation, and misleading behaviors.
Provide true and accurate information in marketing, documentation, and client communications, and do not exaggerate the scope or effectiveness of certification.
It is strictly prohibited to solicit, accept, or provide bribes, kickbacks, or other improper benefits during the certification process.
3. Compliance with Laws and Regulations
Comply with national laws and regulations, accreditation requirements, and international standards related to certification.
Only carry out business within the scope of official accreditation, and do not provide certification services beyond the approved scope.
Completely retain all certification process records in accordance with regulatory and standard requirements.
Fully cooperate with inspections, audits, and investigations by regulatory authorities.
4. Professional Competence
Ensure that auditors and technical personnel have valid qualifications, relevant experience, and receive continuous training.
Maintain and enhance professional knowledge of standards, regulations, and industry best practices.
Conduct audits and evaluations in a scientific, rigorous, objective, and impartial manner.
Do not undertake certification tasks beyond the competence of individuals or the organization.
5. Confidentiality Obligations
Strictly protect clients' non-public information, including technical data, trade secrets, and business information, and strictly prohibit unauthorized disclosure.
Only authorized personnel can access confidential information, and implement permission management.
Continue to fulfill confidentiality obligations after the termination of client relationships, unless disclosure is compulsorily required by law.
Do not use confidential information for personal gain or unauthorized purposes.
6. Fair Treatment and Client Rights
Treat all clients fairly, without discriminating against any party based on size, region, or other factors.
Clearly and transparently inform clients of certification processes, fees, and requirements.
Establish a fair and efficient appeal and complaint handling mechanism.
Respond to client inquiries and feedback in a timely and professional manner.
7. Anti-Corruption and Anti-Bribery
It is strictly prohibited to give, accept, or provide any improper benefits to influence certification decisions.
Adopt a zero-tolerance policy for all forms of corruption.
Require all personnel to report suspected unethical or illegal behaviors, and strictly prohibit retaliation.
Impose disciplinary sanctions on violations, up to termination of relationships and referral to legal authorities for handling.
8. Responsible Publicity and Communication
The content on the official website and promotional materials shall be true and verifiable, and shall not mislead the public.
Do not make false or exaggerated publicity about SRS's capabilities, accreditation qualifications, and certification value.
Do not engage in unfair competition, defame peers, or distort information about compe titors.
Clearly disclose SRS's accreditation status and certification scope in all public materials.
9. Data Protection and Privacy
Collect, process, and store personal information and business data in accordance with applicable data protection laws and regulations.
Adopt appropriate technical and organizational measures to ensure data security.
Explicit consent shall be obtained for data processing and use (if applicable).
Do not sell, rent, or disclose personal data to unauthorized third parties.
10. Continuous Improvement
Regularly review and update this Code of Ethics to adapt to changes in laws, regulations, and the industry.
Supervise the implementation of this Code through internal audits and management reviews.
Encourage feedback from clients, employees, and stakeholders to strengthen ethical practices.
Cultivate a cultural atmosphere of integrity, responsibility, and ethical awareness within the organization.
Supplementary Provisions
This Code of Ethics shall take effect on the date of publication. SRS reserves the right to revise, supplement, or update this Code at any time, and the revised version shall be published on the official website of SRS and take effect on the date of publication.
