2. THE CORPORATE BUSINESS COMMUNITY

Section 2.10 - Customers and Consumers

Principles
2.10.P.1
The company adheres to international standards and protocols relevant to its products and services.

2.10.P.2
The company is committed to a marketing policy whereby it does not produce goods and services under conditions where human rights, labour rights, and environmental standards which are internationally recognized are violated.

2.10.P.3
The company ensures that its products and services meet customer requirements and product specification.

2.10.P.4
The company is committed to marketing practices which protect consumers and which ensure the safety of all products.

2.10.P.5
The company is fully committed to fair trading practices.

Criteria
2.10.C.1
The company does not market products, which denigrate or supplant sustainable natural products, nor produce them under conditions where human rights, labour rights and environmental standards are violated.

2.10.C.2
All advertisement and labelling of products is complete, fair and honest. Only claims, which can be substantiated and fulfilled, are made by the company, its employees and its agents.

2.10.C.3
The company does not market products, which denigrate or supplant sustainable natural
products in such a way as to cause harm to the environment or to consumers.

2.10.C.4
The company does not market products in other countries, which have been found to be harmful in any country.

2.10.C.5
The company does not engage in cartels, spheres of influence or patent protections, which are deliberately designed to denigrate the rights of others.

2.10.C.6
The company ensures that products marketed globally have clear, specific warnings in the appropriate local language, about their possible dangers to the consumer.

2.10.C.7
The company does not take advantage of vulnerable groups through inappropriately directed marketing of unsuitable products (such as toy guns for children and tobacco).

Bench Marks
2.10.B.1
The company complies with human rights, labour standards, and environmental protocols, advertising standards legislation, international standards and protocols, product safety legislation or recognized codes where they exist and this compliance is regularly disclosed.

2.10.B.2
The company's activities and products have received positive evaluations from independent consumer organisations.

2.10.B.3
Relevant consumer codes are followed by the company in such a way as to protect vulnerable groups.

2.10.B.4
There is no evidence of the participation of the company in cartels, spheres of influence or unfair patent protections.