USP Policies

As stated in USP's Code of Ethics, USP and its subsidiaries (USP) are committed to responsible, ethical, and legal practices throughout the organization and in all aspects of USP activities. The Policies contained in this document are intended to reflect and expand upon the principles contained in the Code of Ethics and preserve USP's independence, integrity, reputation, and credibility as a volunteer-driven, science-based standards-setting organization. These Polices shall govern the conduct of USP's employees, officers, trustees, and volunteers as USP pursues its vision of good pharmaceutical care for all. They are further implemented through rules and procedures applicable to USP's employees, officers, trustees, and volunteers, including the Rules of Business Practice for the USP Board of Trustees, the Rules and Procedures of the Council of Experts, and USP's internal Employee Handbook, Quality Manual, and SOPs. As used in this document, the term "volunteers" refers to the volunteer members of USP's Council of Experts, Expert Committees, and ad hoc Advisory Panels, who agree to abide by USP's Code of Ethics and Policies as a condition of their participation in USP's standard-setting and other scientific decision-making processes.

Any questions regarding the Code of Ethics, these Policies, or USP rules and procedures, or any concerns regarding suspected violations of or failures to comply with the Code of Ethics, these Policies or such rules or procedures, should be brought to the attention of USP's leadership. To further encourage reporting of such concerns, USP has adopted a Whistleblower and Non-Retaliation Policy that provides employees, officers, trustees, and volunteers with a mechanism for anonymously reporting concerns, assurance that concerns will be investigated in a full, fair, and impartial manner, and protection against retaliation. This Whistleblower and Non-Retaliation Policy is available on USP's Web site.

USP's Policies are organized into the following four sections, to correspond to the sections of USP's Code of Ethics and the guiding principles contained in each section: