Pfizer has a longstanding corporate policy that prohibits colleagues or anyone acting on its behalf from providing any payment or benefit to any person or entity in order to improperly influence a government official or to gain an unfair business advantage. Pfizer is committed to performing with integrity and acting ethically and legally in accordance with all applicable laws and regulations, including, but not limited to, anti-bribery and anti-corruption laws. Pfizer expects the same commitment from the consultants, agents, representatives or other companies and individuals acting on its behalf (“Business Associates”), as well as those acting on behalf of Business Associates.
Bribery of Government Officials
Most countries have laws that forbid making, offering or promising any payment or anything of value (directly or indirectly) to a government official when the payment is intended to influence an official act or decision to award or retain business. Under Pfizer's policies, "government official" is broadly interpreted and includes:
(i) any elected or appointed government official (eg a member of a ministry of health);
(ii) any employee or person acting for or on behalf of a government official, agency, or enterprise performing a governmental function;
(iii) any political party, candidate for public office, officer, employee, or person acting for or on behalf of a political party or candidate for public office; or
(iv) an employee or person acting for or on behalf of a public international organisation (eg the United Nations).
"Government" is meant to include all levels and divisions of governments (ie local, regional, or national and administrative, legislative, or executive). Because this definition of "government official" is so broad, it is likely that Business Associates will interact with a government official in the ordinary course of their business on behalf of Pfizer. For example, doctors employed by government-owned hospitals would be considered "government officials" under Pfizer policies.
The U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977 (the “FCPA”) prohibits making, promising, or authorising the making of a payment or providing anything of value to a non-U.S. government official to improperly or corruptly induce that official to make any governmental act or decision to assist a company in obtaining or retaining business, or to otherwise obtain an improper advantage. The FCPA also prohibits a company or person from using another company or individual to engage in any of the foregoing activities. As a U.S. company, Pfizer must comply with the FCPA and could be held liable as a result of acts committed anywhere in the world by a Business Associate. As an ex-US affiliate of Pfizer Inc, Pfizer Australia also complies with the tenets of the FCPA.
Anti-Bribery and Anti-Corruption Principles Governing Interactions with Governments and Government Officials
Business Associates must communicate and abide by the following principles with regard to their interactions with governments and government officials:
Commercial Bribery
Bribery and corruption can also occur in non-government, business to business relationships. Most countries have laws which prohibit offering, promising, giving, requesting, receiving, accepting, or agreeing to accept money or anything of value in exchange for an improper business advantage. Examples of prohibited conduct could include, but are not limited to, the provision of inappropriate gifts or hospitality, kickbacks, or investment opportunities offered to improperly induce the purchase of goods or services. Pfizer colleagues are not permitted to offer, give, solicit or accept bribes, and we expect our Business Associates, and those acting on their behalf in connection with work for Pfizer, to abide by the same principles.
Anti-Bribery and Anti-Corruption Principles Governing Interactions with Private Parties and Pfizer Colleagues
Business Associates must communicate and abide by the following principles with regard to their interactions with private parties and Pfizer colleagues:
Reporting Suspected or Actual Violations
Business Associates, and those acting on their behalf in connection with work for Pfizer, are expected to raise concerns related to potential violations of these International Anti-Bribery and Anti-Corruption Principles or the law. Such reports can be made to a Business Associate’s primary point of contact at Pfizer, or if an Associate prefers, to Pfizer’s Compliance Group by email at corporate.compliance@pfizer.com or by phone at 1-212-733-3026.