German Chamber of Commerce

German Chamber Template for a “Code of Conduct for Sustainable Supply Chains in China”

17/06/2021

The German Chamber of Commerce in China is committed to promoting the principle of the Honorable Merchant and strives to support German companies doing business in China. Against the backdrop of the recently-adopted German supply chain law ("Act on Corporate Due Diligence in Supply Chains"), the German Chamber would like to present you with a template for the “Code of Conduct for Sustainable Supply Chains in China” for German companies in China. The Code can be adapted to the specificities of certain industries and business fields. For companies whose headquarters have a Code of Conduct which applies globally, this Code can also be used in addition to their global Code of Conduct.

The aim of the “Code of Conduct for Sustainable Supply Chains in China” is to provide German companies, and in particular small and medium-sized companies that do not yet have a dedicated compliance management system, with a practical tool that serves as a basis for a China-specific Code of Conduct. It also signals that German businesses are proactively addressing the topic of supply chains in China, with the support of their representative body, the German Chamber of Commerce.

The Code is the product of a collaboration between the German Chamber and a core group of experts from member companies, who put together an initial draft. Subsequently, all member companies, and the Boards of Directors of the German Chamber of Commerce China-wide, were given the opportunity to comment on it. We would like to thank all participating companies for their valuable input and support.

Please find the template for a “Code of Conduct for Sustainable Supply Chains in China” in the downloads section below as well as the German Chamber’s Introductory Notes, both in English and Chinese.