Groupe Chemia

Code of Ethics

As an independent laboratory, PhytoChemia Laboratory strives to maintain a neutral and trustworthy position with its clients and the public. To achieve this, our team adheres to several guiding principles to ensure we avoid any conflicts of interest. Below are some of our commitments in this regard.

PhytoChemia Laboratory as a Company

PhytoChemia Laboratory will not maintain any permanent place of business within the facilities of any of its clients, or of any direct competitors of its clients.

PhytoChemia Laboratory will not engage in the promotion, importation, distribution, manufacturing, supply, or sale of plant-derived products, with two exceptions:

  • The production of chemically defined reference standards intended for analytical purposes, or pure molecules intended for resale in isolated and purified form;
  • Within the framework of an exploratory pilot study conducted on behalf of a client, where the final product will not be promoted, sold, or distributed by PhytoChemia Laboratory itself.

At no time and under no circumstances will PhytoChemia Laboratory actively promote, vouch for, or make recommendations against a specific brand other than its own (i.e., companies belonging to the Chemia Group). Public comments made on behalf of the laboratory will be limited to specific analytical results and/or generalities not applying to any particular brand. Analysis results apply solely to the samples analyzed and will not be used by PhytoChemia Laboratory to make inferences regarding the merits of a given brand.

When conducting research projects involving other companies, the scope of collaboration will be limited to the reasonable progress of the research project. Promotion of results stemming from such collaboration will be limited to scientific publications and directly derived content (e.g., explanatory blog posts or videos). If any co-author holds any financial interest, however remote, in the results at the time of publication, PhytoChemia Laboratory will insist that said conflicts be duly and clearly declared within the manuscript.

PhytoChemia Laboratory Personnel (Including Executive Staff)

Staff members shall not promote, import, manufacture, distribute, or sell plant-derived products, particularly through multi-level marketing companies.

When discussing plant extracts or other vegetable preparations with persons outside the company, staff members should avoid promoting, endorsing, or making negative recommendations regarding a brand. This excludes all plant materials intended for culinary use. The latter may be discussed freely as part of the personal tastes and private life of staff members.

Staff members shall not accept any gifts from companies or individuals doing business with PhytoChemia. If such gifts are received, they must be considered as having been given to PhytoChemia and reserved for research purposes.

PhytoChemia Laboratory Executive Staff (Including Directors)

Executive staff members shall not participate as speakers or guests in any corporate event held by a specific brand doing business with PhytoChemia, nor shall they publicly discuss the pros and cons of a given brand or product line. They may participate in events organized by groups of several companies normally in competition with each other, and in such cases will limit their interventions to general scientific or factual information. They may also participate in corporate events as observers, without remuneration.

At all times when expressing themselves publicly or on social media, executive staff members must maintain a neutral, objective, and scientifically supported tone.

PhytoChemia Administrators and Owners (Voting Shareholders)

Administrators must not have any financial interest in, nor make investments in, companies or organizations manufacturing or distributing products subject to PhytoChemia analysis, including but not limited to essential oils, fragrances, cannabis products, and herbs or plant extracts intended for cosmetic or medicinal purposes. The exceptions applying to PhytoChemia as a company also apply to this point.

Administrators shall not, at any time, maintain an employment relationship with a private organization that is also a client (or a direct competitor of a client) of PhytoChemia Laboratory for analytical services, nor have maintained such relationships during the 12 months prior to becoming an administrator or owner. Should such a client wish to do business with PhytoChemia, the request must be declined on the grounds of an apparent conflict of interest.