Guiding Principles
The following principles provide the ethical framework that we aspire to while working with in relationships with others:
- Treat colleagues, stakeholders, customers, suppliers and the public respectfully and professionally, taking account of confidential issues when appropriate.
- Deal courteously with those who hold opinions that differ from ours.
- Respect cultural differences.
- Have open and explicit relationships with government, the public, the private sector and other funders.
In our work
- Operate with honesty and integrity in all our work, taking steps to identify and deal with corrupt practices and professional misconduct.
- Be open and transparent in making decisions, undertaking activities and allocating funding; if that is not possible, explain why.
- Reach conclusions based on best scientific and professional practice, having considered all views.
- Work to the standards of EU legislation as a minimum here and abroad, and operate according to local laws as required.
- Disclose conflicts of interest and actively manage them.
- Ensure funding decisions are transparent and securely based on objective assessment and selection procedures.
- Recognise appropriately the intellectual, scientific support and operational contributions of others.
- Consider ethical challenges and the limits of our knowledge by broadening debate at an early stage.
Impact on the environment
- Weigh any possible adverse impacts of proposed work against the expected benefits, while considering the economic, social and environmental dimensions.
- Assess and minimise the adverse impacts of our decisions and work on the natural environment, on people and on animal welfare.