Compliance and ethics
Complying with laws, regulations and our internal code of conduct is central to our sustainability as a business
In BP we believe that our reputation, and therefore our future, depends on every BP employee, everywhere, every day, taking personal responsibility for ethical and compliant business conduct.
It is a fundamental BP commitment to comply with all applicable legal requirements and adhere to high ethical standards.
Code of conduct
Our code of conduct enables us to do this by setting out standards for the way we behave. It clearly defines what we expect of our business and our people, regardless of location and background. Covering a range of issues from how much hospitality to accept from a supplier to looking after company laptops, the code is about helping BP people to ‘do the right thing’ in a complex business environment.
The code of conduct covers five key areas: health, safety, security and the environment; employees; business partners; governments and communities; and company assets and financial integrity.
It was developed with support from external experts in line with international best practice and followed the study of codes from more than 50 major companies. It also urges readers to speak up about breaches and advises them where to go for help or more detailed guidance on specific issues.
We are continuing to strengthen our compliance and ethics programme to support the implementation of the BP code of conduct.
We are committed to reviewing the code in 2009, reviewing the risks covered and standards expected, updating it if necessary.
The areas covered by the code of conduct are as follows:
Health, safety, security and environment
The code outlines BP’s standards and highlights fundamental rules such as the prompt reporting of any breaches of HSSE laws or BP’s HSSE requirements.
The code outlines BP’s standards and highlights fundamental rules such as the prompt reporting of any breaches of HSSE laws or BP’s HSSE requirements.
Employees
The code highlights expectations for employee behaviour within BP, including a respectful and harassment-free workplace. The code outlines BP’s commitment to the elimination of all forms of forced or compulsory labour and the effective abolition of child labour. It also confirms that BP will seek to work in good faith with trade unions and other bodies that our employees choose to represent them collectively.
The code highlights expectations for employee behaviour within BP, including a respectful and harassment-free workplace. The code outlines BP’s commitment to the elimination of all forms of forced or compulsory labour and the effective abolition of child labour. It also confirms that BP will seek to work in good faith with trade unions and other bodies that our employees choose to represent them collectively.
Business partners
The code provides detailed guidance on receiving and giving gifts and entertainment, conflicts of interest, trade restrictions, money laundering and working with suppliers. It also highlights BP’s commitment, in all the countries where we operate, to adhere to competition laws which prohibit anti-competitive behaviour such as price-fixing conspiracies.
The code provides detailed guidance on receiving and giving gifts and entertainment, conflicts of interest, trade restrictions, money laundering and working with suppliers. It also highlights BP’s commitment, in all the countries where we operate, to adhere to competition laws which prohibit anti-competitive behaviour such as price-fixing conspiracies.
Governments and communities
The code covers issues such as bribery and corruption, dealing with governments, community engagement and political activity. It sets out clearly BP’s policy against bribery and corruption, in both the public and private sectors, and BP’s policy prohibiting the making of facilitation payments.
The code covers issues such as bribery and corruption, dealing with governments, community engagement and political activity. It sets out clearly BP’s policy against bribery and corruption, in both the public and private sectors, and BP’s policy prohibiting the making of facilitation payments.
Company assets and financial integrity
The code includes BP’s requirements on issues such as accurate and complete data, reporting and accounting, intellectual property and copyright, insider trading and the use of digital systems.
The code includes BP’s requirements on issues such as accurate and complete data, reporting and accounting, intellectual property and copyright, insider trading and the use of digital systems.
Attestation
The information on this page forms part of the information reviewed and reported on by Ernst & Young as part of BP's 2008 sustainability reporting.
Specific observation by Ernst & Young: We interviewed staff in the compliance and ethics (C&E) function and reviewed management information reported by them to the safety, ethics and environment assurance committee. We noted that the C&E function has taken steps to develop additional indicators to include within its reporting.
Code of conduct
Our code of conduct is the cornerstone of our commitment to integrity
Code of conduct
Related links
Progress on the BP US Refineries Independent Safety Review panel recommendations
Track our progress in process safety management
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