Salvest’s Code of Conduct for Partners
Salvest is committed to ensuring that our supply chain and work conditions are safe. This means that production processes and the supply chain are environmentally friendly, the product is reliable and safe and provides high quality for consumers, and workers are treated with respect and dignity. This document sets out Salvest’s general terms and conditions for partners, which comprises social requirements, product safety, quality, sustainability and the environment. Salvest’s partners include producers, suppliers, retailers and all other companies that provide services to Salvest. Salvest’s code of conduct is regularly updated and all partners have the obligation to ensure that they are always using the valid version that can be found on the Salvest homepage.
Partners also ensure that requirements are communicated to and implemented by all of their subcontractors.
1. Working conditions and workers’ rights
The Partner must base its labour relations on the European Convention of Human Rights Convention.
1.1 Employees’ rights
1.1.1 The labour relationship must be voluntary.
1.1.2 The use of child labour is strictly forbidden. Young employees must be protected separately, meaning the applicable working times and conditions must be followed. If young employees are involved, care must be taken to ensure that the labour relationship does not endanger their physical, mental, or emotional development.
1.1.3 Employees have the right to form unions and be members of trade unions.
1.1.4 All employees must be treated equally.
1.1.5 Salaries and benefits offered to employees must comply with the national legislation or with the standards applicable in the industry.
1.1.6 Overtime must be compensated according to the national legislation.
1.1.7 A safe working environment must be guaranteed. Harassment or persecution may not be tolerated.
1.1.8 All employees must have proper and lawful employment contracts, and remuneration must be paid in a timely manner.
1.2 Occupational safety and health
1.2.1 A safe and healthy work environment that complies with all applicable local laws must be guaranteed.
1.2.2 The Employer must provide its employees with sufficient drinking water, lighting, warmth, ventilation, waste facilities and personal protection equipment.
1.2.3 The Employer must regularly organise emergency and first aid training pursuant to applicable local laws and the internal provisions of the company.
1.2.4 The Company is responsible for the health, safety and welfare of its employees, and for establishing general working environment procedures and following such procedures.
1.3 Work and rest time
1.3.1 The Partner must ensure that its employees follow the requirements of all applicable local laws connected to regular working time and overtime, as well as holidays, rest time, maternity leave and parental leave.
1.3.2 If there is no respective local law applicable, the Partner may not require their employees to work more than 60 hours in a regular workweek.
1.3.3 Partners must provide their employees with one day off after six consecutive days of work, and must ensure that any overtime is done on a voluntary basis and is duly compensated.
2. Quality and food safety
General principles: The Partner must ensure that its business activity complies with all product safety and product quality standards applicable under local and EU legislation and regulations. To ensure food safety and quality, the Partner must apply generally recognised principles, including hygiene requirements, risk analyses, and traceability at every stage of production and/or processing.
2.1 Safe products and services
2.1.1 The Partner may only supply products and provide services that are not harmful to people’s health.
2.2 High-quality products and services
2.2.1 The Partner may only supply products and provide services that meet the requirements for the product specifications and/or quality requirements set out by Salvest.
2.3 Traceability
2.3.1 The Partner must ensure that their procedures and systems allow its products or services to be tracked through every stage of production and/or processing up to the end customer.
2.4 Recalls
2.4.1 The Partner must have a documented system that describes each action to be taken by the company when recalling noncompliant batches and/or batches that are harmful for the health of consumers from the market/customer.
3. Packaging raw materials
3.1 Management systems
3.1.1 Producers/suppliers of packaging and raw materials must follow recognised quality management systems and standards of food safety and quality systems certified by third parties. Salvest recognises the following international standards:
3.1.1.1 IFS food (The International Standard for Auditing Food Suppliers)
3.1.1.2 BRC (British Retail Consortium)
3.1.1.3 GFSI (Global Food Safety Initiative)
3.1.1.4 SQF 2000 Code (Safe Quality Food)
3.1.1.5 FSSC 22000 (Food Safety System Certification)
3.1.1.6 EFSIS (Standard and Protocol for Companies Supplying Food Products)
3.1.1.7 ISO 22000 (Food Safety Standard)
3.1.1.8 ISO 9001 (Quality Management Standard)
3.1.1.9 PAS 220 (Publicly Available Specification)
3.1.2 Exceptions may be made for small producers, in which case the producer of food products must establish a documented self-control system based on risk analysis and critical control points (HACCP – Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points). An exception for small producers is issued by Salvest’s Quality Manager based on the results of the Partner’s risk analysis or the Partner’s audit results.
3.2 Special requirements for raw materials of agricultural origin
3.2.1 The Partner must ensure that the raw materials it produces and supplies comply with EU legislation. The Partner must set its limits for pollutants based on the ALARA (As Low as Reasonably Achievable) principle.
3.2.2 Salvest does not use genetically modified food products or ingredients.
3.2.3 Raw materials meant for baby food production must be free of pesticide residues. Pesticide residues should also be avoided in other raw materials.
4. Environmental protection and animal welfare
General principles: The Partner must confirm that its activities comply with all environmental legislation, regulations, and guidelines applicable in the respective country. The Partner must regularly monitor the environmental impact of its activities and implement measures to minimise the negative impact.
4.1 Agriculture, animal welfare, and preservation of fish resources
4.1.1 Minimising the environmental impact of agriculture
4.1.1.1 The operations of raw material producers must be guided by the environmental legislation, standards, and good agricultural practices applicable in the respective country. Under EU rules, primary producers and processors of organic raw materials (as certified by third parties) are to be preferred.
4.1.1.2 The Partner must ensure that any products containing raw materials with a highly negative environmental impact (such as, but not limited to, soy and palm oil) originate from sustainable agricultural practices.
4.1.1.3 The Partner must ensure that, in all its activities, it avoids negative environmental impacts, protects and improves the environment, and exploits natural resources efficiently and in optimally.
4.1.2 Ensuring the welfare of animals and poultry and preservation of fish resources
4.1.2.1 The Partner must ensure that any products of animal origin or products that contain ingredients of animal origin come from farms that ensure high levels of animal and/or poultry welfare. Animals and poultry must be treated well and protected from unnecessary suffering and disease. The farm and the producer must operate in accordance with environmental legislation, standards, and good agricultural practices applicable in the respective country. Under EU rules, primary producers and processors of organic raw materials (certified by third parties) are to be preferred.
4.1.2.2 Animals and poultry must be kept and cared for in an animal-friendly environment that ensures their health and natural behaviour.
4.1.2.3 The Partner must ensure that fish and/or any other seafood or any ingredients containing seafood originate from legally caught fish that have been caught from the territorial waters of the country of origin specified in the documentation and in accordance with any applicable quotas. Fishing must be carried out in accordance with all fishing practices relevant to the catching area and using legal fishing equipment that complies with all applicable requirements.
4.1.2.4 The Partner must confirm that the fishing was conducted in accordance with the law, standards, and prescriptions applicable in the respective country, and that none of their operations facilitate overfishing.
5. Packaging and recycling
5.1 Packaging requirements 5.1.1 Packaging must comply with all applicable legislation and standards, must be safe, and must protect the product. Packaging may not negatively affect the product.
5.1.2 Packaging must be optimally sized to protect the product without wasting space. The dimensions of the packaging must allow storage and transportation on standard pallets so that the space on the pallet is used to the maximum extent possible.
5.1.3 Packaging made from recycled raw materials must be preferred when choosing packaging, and the use of packaging made from non-renewable resources must be minimised. Naturally coloured packaging must be preferred and the use of coloured (printed) packaging materials must be minimised.
5.1.4 The principle of using as little packaging as possible in order to ensure the safe transportation and preservation of the product must be followed. Excess packaging must be avoided.
5.2 Promotion of recycling
5.2.1 Products and their packaging must be labelled with information that provides instructions for sorting and recycling.
5.3 Effective usage of natural resources and prevention of waste
5.3.1 Effective usage of natural resources
5.3.1.1 The Partner must confirm that it implements measures to decrease the use of energy originating from non-renewable resources and that it regularly monitors the efficiency of such measures.
5.3.1.2 The Partner must confirm that it implements measures to decrease the use of groundwater and regularly monitors the efficiency of such measures. 5.4 Prevention of air, water, soil, sound, and light pollution
5.4.1 The Partner must confirm that it implements measures to prevent air, water, soil, sound, and light pollution and regularly monitors the efficiency of such measures.
6. Business ethics and social responsibility
General principles: The Partner confirms that its activity is based on good practices and good intentions. In doing so, the Partner refrains from using methods that may harm its partners, employees, local communities, social groups in weaker positions or the wider population.
6.1 Business ethics
6.1.1 Salvest Partners must observe good business and trade practices in their business activities, as well as fair business customs. Partners may not disrupt their competitors or restrict their activity.
6.1.2 Business secrets may not be acquired or sought in an unfair manner or used for unfair purposes.
6.1.3 The Partner and its partners must follow the codes of ethical conduct in compliance with anti-corruption and competition laws.
6.1.4 Every Salvest Partner and its partners must observe fair trade principles.
6.2 Disclosure of information and data processing
6.2.1 Information about the company’s financial situation, the health and safety of their employees, and environmental impact must be disclosed according to applicable legislation.
6.2.2 The Partner must protect confidential information and ensure the privacy of its business partners and employees and must ensure that applicable intellectual property rights are protected.
6.2.3 Forgery of documents or presentation of incorrect information is prohibited.
6.3 Supporting the local community
6.3.1 Salvest supports Partners that help increase welfare in their local communities.