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Етичен кодекс

Code of Ethics

INTRODUCTION

The activities of companies that manufacture and market diesel exhaust fluid (known as AdBlue®) are of interest to both the business community and the general public. This requires the increased attention and responsibility of these companies, as well as compliance with the formal and informal business principles associated with their operations. For BAPVA members, business is not only an economic but also a social category. In view of this, the members of the BAPVA wish, in addition to complying with the regulations, to act in accordance with the rules set out in this Code of Ethics and agree to be bound by it in the course of their business activities.

BULGARIAN ASSOCIATION OF IMPORTERS AND MANUFACTURERS OF ADBlue® CODE OF ETHICS

  1. Members of the Bulgarian Association of Manufacturers and Importers of AdBlue® will be guided by Bulgarian laws as rules that are in line with the principles of market economy. Equality of competitive conditions and purity in business relations can only be ensured within the framework of the legal regulations. The members of the Association will comply with all Bulgarian laws, regulations and other normative acts and will not carry out any activity that violates, contradicts or is incompatible with them.
  2. The member companies will comply with all types of obligations and stipulated payments in the tax and customs legislation in full, within the established deadlines and in the established manner. Furthermore, they will not knowingly encourage non-payment of taxes and duties by other obligated entities.
  3. They will keep accurate records of their business activities and comply with the registration and accounting rules in force with a view to complying not only with the letter but also with the spirit of the law. Outside their internal control system, they must cooperate with balance sheet audits and with controls exercised by the authorities.
  4. In order to protect the environment, members must comply with all environmental requirements, compliance with which is a fundamental obligation. In order to reduce water, air and soil pollution and noise nuisance, they will endeavour to establish and comply with practices that meet and exceed the requirements of the legal provisions and are appropriate to the technical and economic characteristics of the region. They should promote the conformity of environmental legislation with accepted international practice and European norms (standards).
  5. Members undertake to provide a working environment that meets the requirements for safe and healthy working conditions. They shall create safety conditions and provide full protection to their customers and third parties in the process of providing their services. In their relations with their counterparties, members shall help to establish the same level of safety in the activities of their partners and shall endeavour to cooperate in the area of safety compliance as far as possible.
  6. Members shall ensure that the quality of their products and services meets requirements, including Bulgarian standards and the descriptions and specifications given, and shall provide assurance of the quality of their products. With a view to complying with the provisions concerning the development of technical safety and environmental protection, they should improve the quality of the services and goods offered and oppose any reduction in quality which causes loss to consumers.
  7. Members shall conduct their activities on the basis of fair competition and within the framework of ethical rules. Each member shall have an appropriate ethics policy which further clearly defines its opposition to the involvement of its engaged personnel and its associates in any form of fraud or corruption.
  8. When recruiting staff, members should not overtly or covertly bring in other members' specialists by offering specific terms and conditions and thereby gain a certain advantage in their work. They should establish a consistent business policy in hiring employees who have been discharged by other member companies for violating the rules of this organization. They will not employ anyone who has violated the companies ethics policy.
  9. They must consider compliance with disciplinary rules a basic prerequisite to their business and must honor their commitments.
  10. In the activity of presenting their work and advertising their activities, as well as in the process of any social activity, they must not resort to means that mislead to cause operational or commercial losses by discrediting competitors in the choice of products, services and activities of any kind. The comparison of any product must not be directed at any particular competitor and will not be regarded as fraudulent if all the conditions for an impartial and professional evaluation are present, if the conclusions of the studies are based on competitive information made available to the public and if the public is made aware of the essential characteristics of the products being compared, their price and the conditions under which those prices apply. A comparison such as the one described above should not be misleading by taking part of the results obtained out of context or quoting them tendentiously.
  11. The members of the Bulgarian Association of Manufacturers and Importers of AdBlue® conduct their business openly to the public. They must provide the public and interested parties with any information that does not prejudice their interests or those of their partners.
  12. Member companies are obliged to inform their employees, co-conspirators and customers of the provisions of this Code of Conduct. Member companies will undertake to monitor the provisions of the Code of Conduct and to take appropriate measures to ensure compliance by other parties to contracts.
  13. Member companies must inform the Association of any acts that violate this Code of Ethics if they are committed by persons who are not members of the Association. This also applies to the distribution of diesel exhaust fluid /known as AdBlue®/ by organisations or individuals who do not meet the conditions set by current legislation.
  14. Member companies shall carry out their activities without political party affiliation or political activity. It is their responsibility and right to express their opinions based on their specific knowledge and experience on matters that affect the interests of their employees, customers or shareholders, as well as on matters of general interest.

MONITORING COMPLIANCE WITH ETHICAL RULES

Reports or complaints regarding compliance with the Code of Ethics shall be submitted to the President of the Association and shall be referred to the Board of Directors for review and decision.

Upon receipt of a report or complaint to the President of BAPVA, he shall bring the contents of the report or complaint to the attention of the Board of Governors, which shall consider the facts and adopt a decision within a specified period of time.

The Ethics Committee may make the following decisions in the event of a finding of an ethics violation:

  • establishing the violation in writing and a warning to avoid similar actions in the future;

  • the detection and censure of actions not in conformity with the provisions of this Code of Ethics, with financial penalties;

  • a fine of three times the annual membership fee;

  • suspension of membership;

  • suspension of membership by application to the appropriate authorities;

  • revoke the licence of the society concerned;

  • publicising the infringement in the media;

The above penalties may be cumulative.

PUBLICATION OF THE CODE OF ETHICS

All member companies are required to notify their employees, co-conspirators and clients of the provisions of the Code of Ethics within 90 days of their effective date. This Code of Ethics shall be effective as of September 1, 2023.