Vendor Code of Conduct (for Vendors Working with Andwin Scientific)

Andwin Scientific’s Commitment & Expectations

At Andwin Scientific, we are committed to conducting business with integrity, transparency, and respect for the law and human rights. These values are fundamental to who we are and how we operate. We believe that ethical business practices are not just good policy—they are essential to building long-term, trusted relationships with our customers, employees, communities, and business partners.

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This Vendor Code of Conduct outlines the standards and expectations we have for all vendors, suppliers, and third-party partners (collectively “Vendors”) who work with us. We expect our Vendors to share our commitment to high ethical standards, legal compliance, environmental stewardship, and the fair and respectful treatment of all individuals. Together, we can create value in a responsible and sustainable manner.

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We thank you for your partnership and for upholding these principles in every aspect of your business with us.

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Legal Compliance

Vendors shall operate in strict adherence to all applicable laws, regulations and industry standards in every jurisdiction where they conduct business. Further, Vendor shall be in full compliance with:

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• All applicable federal, state (including California), and local laws, regulations, and ordinances;

• California Civil Code, including provisions on privacy (e.g., CCPA);

• Federal labor and employment laws, including the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, and the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA);

• California Labor Code, including wage and hour laws, mandatory sick leave, and anti-retaliation protections;

• Environmental laws such as the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, and California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA);

• Anti-bribery, anti-money laundering and anti-corruption laws, including the United States Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) and UK Bribery Act. Vendors may not make any direct or indirect payments or promises of payment to foreign government officials for the purpose of inducing that individual to use his/her position to obtain or retain business, including without limitation in violation of the Acts listed above;

• Anti-counterfeiting laws. In an ongoing effort to secure our supply chain from the dangers of counterfeiting, illegal diversion and theft of Andwin Scientific products and products that Andwin Scientific distributes on behalf of other manufacturers, Vendors must notify Andwin Scientific immediately if they are offered the opportunity to purchase, manufacture, distribute or sell counterfeit, illegally diverted or stolen products or otherwise become aware of any such products.

• Import/export compliance laws where Vendors must comply with all applicable import, export, and trade control laws and regulations of the United States, including but not limited to the Export Administration Regulations (EAR), International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), and all applicable sanctions and embargoes administered by the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). Vendors must also comply with all relevant import and export laws of other jurisdictions in which they conduct business. Vendors shall not export, re-export, transfer, or otherwise make available any products, software, technology, or information received from Andwin Scientific to any country, individual, or entity that is subject to U.S. sanctions or export restrictions without prior authorization from the appropriate U.S. government agency. Vendors are responsible providing all information and documentation necessary to ensure compliance with U.S. and destination-country import requirements in a timely manner. This includes proper labeling of the country of origin on all goods, consumer packaging, and commercial invoices, as required by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and other applicable laws. If claiming preferential duty treatment under any free trade agreement (e.g., USMCA), Vendors must provide accurate and complete supporting documentation and certifications as required by law;

• Antitrust and fair competition laws that govern the jurisdiction in which they conduct business.

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Labor and Human Rights

Vendors must uphold the human rights of workers and treat them with fairness, dignity and respect. This includes:

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• No use of slave, forced, bonded, indentured or involuntary, child labor, or human trafficking in any form, and shall fully comply with laws that prohibit the use thereof, as and when applicable. Vendors also must not support any form of human trafficking of involuntary labor through threat, force, fraudulent claims, or other coercion;

• Adopting an approach to human rights consistent with the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights;

• Compliance with minimum wage, overtime, and benefits requirements under federal and California law;

• Fair working hours and humane working conditions;

• No discrimination, harassment, or retaliation based on race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, age, pregnancy, marital status, or other protected characteristics. Vendors must base all conditions of employment on an individual’s ability to do the job, not on the basis of personal characteristics or beliefs. Vendors must follow all applicable employment laws, must not engage in acts of verbal or physical harassment and must not utilize mental or physical disciplinary practices. Vendors must provide an inclusive and supportive working environment for employees and respect and promote diversity and inclusion;

• Freedom of association and the right to collective bargaining, in accordance with applicable law;

• No use of underage labor as defined by applicable law regulating minimum legal age to work. Vendors must not use child labor. No person may be employed that is younger than the legal minimum age for working in any specific jurisdiction and for the type of work involved. In no event may Vendors employ workers that are younger than 14 years of age or younger than the age established for completing compulsory education, whichever is greater. Workers exposed to conditions that are hazardous to health and safety must be at least 18 years old;

• Employment only of workers who are legally authorized to work under applicable law. Vendors must only employ workers with a legal right to work. Vendors must have in place procedures to ensure compliance with this requirement;

• To provide employees with accurate information about wages, mandated benefits of any information as required by applicable labor laws governing working hours and employee compensation in all locations of operation. Vendors must keep employee records in accordance with local and national laws or regulations and provide in a timely manner, via pay stub or similar documentation, the basis on which employees are paid.

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Health and Safety
Vendors must provide a safe and healthy working environment by:

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• Complying with OSHA and California Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) regulations. Vendor shall maintain a safe and healthy work environment, complying with all relevant laws and regulations;

• Identifying and mitigating workplace hazards;

• Providing appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE);

• Maintaining emergency preparedness plans and safety training.

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Environmental Stewardship and Animal Welfare Standards

Vendors must:

• Comply with all applicable environmental laws and regulations, including those governing air emissions, waste disposal, water usage and contamination, toxics in packaging; and noise/chemical management;

• Minimize waste, emissions, and environmental impact;

• Follow California-specific requirements on hazardous substances, recycling, and climate disclosures;

• Avoid the use of banned or restricted substances, including under California Proposition 65;

• Uphold high standards of animal welfare in all activities involving the treatment, use, or handling of animals. This includes, but is not limited to, the sourcing of materials, animal-derived products, and the use of animals in testing or production. Vendors are expected to:

1. Treat animals humanely and ensure they are not subjected to abuse, neglect, or unnecessary suffering.

2. Comply with all applicable laws and regulations regarding animal welfare, including local, national, and international standards.

3. Use alternatives to animal-derived materials or testing where possible and appropriate.

4. Avoid sourcing from suppliers known to engage in practices such as intensive confinement, force feeding, or inhumane slaughter methods.

5. Maintain transparent records of animal welfare practices and be open to audits or third-party verification when requested.

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• Comply with the Lacey Act (16 U.S.C. §§ 3371-3378), which prohibits the trade of wildlife, fish, and plants that have been illegally taken, transported, or sold. Vendors are expected to:

1. Ensure all plant-based and wood-derived products (e.g., timber, paper, and furniture) are sourced legally, with complete and accurate declarations as required under the Act.

2. Maintain transparent and verifiable documentation demonstrating legal harvest, transport, and sale of all relevant materials.

3. Conduct due diligence and implement robust traceability systems to prevent the introduction of illegally sourced products into the supply chain.

4. Promptly notify the company if any supply materials are found to be in violation of the Lacey Act or any applicable international, federal, or local environmental laws.

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Business Integrity and Ethics 

Vendors must conduct business ethically and transparently by:

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• Prohibiting all forms of bribery, extortion, kickbacks, embezzlement, and corruption;

• Accurately recording all business transactions on a timely basis;

• Respecting intellectual property rights and confidentiality agreements. Vendors must not disclose to others and must not use for their own purposes or the purpose of others any trade secrets, confidential information, knowledge, designs, data, skill, or any other information or intellectual property considered by Andwin Scientific as “confidential”;

• Avoiding conflicts of interest in business dealings with Andwin Scientific;

• Protecting the confidentiality of their whistleblower employees, prohibit retaliation;

• Complying with the OECD Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Supply Chains of Minerals from Conflict Affected and High-Risk Areas and any domestic laws related to such guidance. Vendors must work with their vendors to identify the source and chain of custody of any conflict minerals contained in their products. Vendors must agree to cooperate with Andwin Scientific in connection with any inquiries or due diligence that Andwin Scientific chooses to perform with respect to such conflict minerals;

• Implementing administrative, technical, and physical safeguards to ensure that employee, patient, healthcare professional and other third party’s privacy rights are protected in accordance with all applicable laws and regulations.

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Data Privacy and Security 
Vendors must protect confidential information and comply with:

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• California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) and California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA);

• Applicable federal laws on data privacy and cybersecurity;

• Only collecting, processing, and storing data for lawful business purposes, with appropriate consent and safeguards.

 

Monitoring and Audits

Andwin Scientific reserves the right to audit or assess vendor compliance with this Code at any time. Vendors are expected to:

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• Maintain accurate and complete records demonstrating compliance;

• Cooperate with audits and investigations;

• Promptly correct any identified non-compliance;

• Emphasize and strive for continuous improvement of procedures and practices.

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Reporting and Non-Retaliation

 

Vendors must report any actual or suspected violations of this Code or applicable law to Andwin Scientific at 818-999-2828.

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Reports may be made anonymously as permitted by law. Andwin Scientific prohibits retaliation against any party making a report in good faith.

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Enforcement and Consequences 

Violations of this Code may result in:

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• Remedial action plans;

• Suspension or termination of the business relationship;

• Legal action, where appropriate.

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Acknowledgment 

By entering into or maintaining a business relationship with Andwin Scientific, vendors affirm their understanding, agreement, and commitment to uphold this Vendor Code of Conduct. Vendors are also responsible for ensuring that their employees, subcontractors, affiliates, and supply chain partners adhere to these standards.

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Andwin Scientific reserves the right to update or amend this Code at any time. Continued engagement with Andwin Scientific signifies acceptance of the most current version.

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