Corporate Responsibility Office

The Public Policy Committee (PPC) of Baxter International's board of directors is responsible for reviewing the policies and practices of the company, and its subsidiaries, on a worldwide basis to assure that they are consistent with Baxter's responsibility to employees, customers and society. As part of that responsibility, the PPC oversees the company's ethics and business practice standards.

To assist the PPC in carrying out these responsibilities, the board of directors created a Corporate Responsibility Office (CRO) in 1993. The CRO is accountable directly to the chairman of the Public Policy Committee and regularly reports on its activities and significant business practice issues at PPC meetings.

The Corporate Responsibility Office (CRO) actively supports Baxter's commitment to the highest standards of ethics and integrity in all of our business practices. The CRO is accountable to the Public Policy Committee of the board of directors and:

1. Assures the development and communication of appropriate business practice policies and initiatives;
2. Develops and maintains independent, corporate-level resources and processes for employees and key constituencies to provide guidance on the company's business practice policies and for reporting potential violations of business practice policy;
3. Ensures that each business unit has adequate processes for:
   a) providing guidance on the company's business practice policies,
   b) the reporting and investigation of business practice issues, and
   c) notifying the CRO of significant business practice issues; and
4. Verifies the adequacy of, and compliance with, the company's business practice policies, application of those policies, and responses to non-compliance.

 

Business Practice Standards Helpline

1-877-229-8373

          or

1-847-948-4964

 

CRO
P.O. Box 154
Deerfield, IL 60015
Fax: 1-847-948-2867

 

Email
corporate_responsibility_office_deerfield@baxter.com

To carry out its activities on a global basis, the CRO established Regional Business Practice Committees in 1996. Through the CRO, the RBPCs are accountable to the Public Policy Committee of the Board of Directors. RBPCs exist in Europe, the Asia/Pacific region, the Intercontinental region, and the U.S., Canada and Caribbean region. These committees are responsible for implementing the CRO's mission and key activities within their regions.

The Corporate Business Practices function provides the CRO with the day-to-day resources to accomplish its mission. It assists the CRO with all of its key activities, including management of the CRO's toll-free number and post-office box as well as the annual certificate of compliance process. It also serves as a resource and liaison to the Regional Business Practice Committees. Additionally, the Business Practices function provides resources and guidance for employees, supervisors, and managers who have questions concerning the application of the company's business practice standards or who wish to report a possible violation of those standards.

Each Baxter manager has special responsibilities to act and communicate in a manner that is consistent with Baxter's business practice standards. Managers also must create a work environment which:

• Exemplifies Baxter's Shared Values
• Encourages ethical behavior
• Encourages open communication regarding business practice issues and concerns without fear of reprisals.