IV. MANAGEMENT PROCESSES

Our Principles

• USP will design, implement, and maintain quality assessment programs to continuously monitor, improve, and measure the quality and impact of USP programs and services
• USP will manage its finances in accordance with sound financial principles and maintain accurate records that ensure full, fair, timely, and understandable financial disclosure
• USP will respect and protect the confidentiality of proprietary information, whether belonging to USP or provided by third parties, and will safeguard all USP assets

Our Policies

Quality Policy

USP, operating under a rigorous quality management system, is committed to continuous improvement and to providing quality products and services, with the goal of having the quality of such products and services considered outstanding worldwide. To demonstrate this commitment, USP actively pursues compliance and, where applicable, registration to relevant International Organization for Standardization (ISO) standards.

All officers, trustees, volunteers, and employees have an important responsibility to uphold the intent and expectations of USP's quality policy to customers, stakeholders, and fellow employees, and to strive to design quality into all aspects of USP standards-setting activities and other operations.

Financial Reporting and Record-Keeping Policy

USP is committed to ensuring that all internal and external reports and records it creates, makes public, or provides to the government constitute full, fair, truthful, timely, and understandable disclosures, and do not contain false, misleading, or inaccurate statements. Such records and reports serve a critical role in managing USP's business, in fulfilling its obligations to its customers, suppliers, and the government, and in maintaining open and honest communications with officers, trustees, volunteers, employees, representatives, stakeholders, and the public.

USP maintains accounting and internal control and audit systems to ensure the accuracy of its financial statements and records. All financial information shall conform to generally accepted accounting principles and established USP financial policies and procedures. All transactions and disbursements shall be reported accurately, completely, and in appropriate detail in order to ensure full accountability for all assets and activities of USP and to supply the data needed in connection with the preparation of its financial statements. Any concerns regarding the accuracy or integrity of financial reporting or deviations from established financial policies should be brought to the attention of USP's Chief Financial and Administrative Officer, USP's General Counsel, or otherwise reported in accordance with USP's Whistleblower and Non-Retaliation Policy.

Confidentiality

All officers, trustees, volunteers, and employees are obligated to protect confidential information whether generated by USP or by third parties. This may include financial information that is not required to be available to the public; scientific or medical information; customer information; supply and service information; marketing information; correspondence between and among USP staff and members of its Board of Trustees, Council of Experts, and Expert Committees; personnel or consultant files; and other information which USP or a third party may deem confidential. The failure to adequately protect the confidentiality of such information may result in significant competitive or legal harm to USP or third parties.

Specific confidentiality provisions applicable to USP trustees and volunteers are located in the Rules of Business Practice for the USP Board of Trustees and the Rules and Procedures of the Council of Experts. USP employees are expected to comply with the confidentiality provisions set forth in the Employee Handbook.

Use of Company Assets

All USP officers, trustees, volunteers, and employees have a responsibility to preserve and protect USP assets, including time, equipment, materials, supplies, and information, and take all reasonable actions to prevent loss of company assets through carelessness, theft, or waste. USP resources are to be used only for their legitimate, intended business purposes. No officer, trustee, volunteer, or employee shall use USP property, information, or his or her position with USP in any way that is, or appears to be, motivated by private gain or to compete with USP, or take personal advantage of any business or financial opportunity that properly belongs to USP.