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CHINA PHARMA HOLDINGS, INC.
CODE OF BUSINESS CONDUCT AND ETHICS
(Adopted by the Board of Directors on July 8, 2008)
Introduction
This Code of Business Conduct and Ethics (the "Code") covers a wide range of
business practices and procedures. It does not cover every issue that may arise
but it sets out basic principles to guide all of the employees, officers and
directors of China Pharma Holdings, Inc., its subsidiaries and/or affiliated
entities (collectively, the "Company"). All of our officers, directors and
employees must conduct themselves accordingly and seek to avoid even the
appearance of improper behavior. The code should also be provided to and
followed by the Company's agents and representatives, including consultants.
If a law conflicts with a policy in this Code, you must comply with the law. If
you have any questions about these conflicts, you should ask your supervisor how
to handle the situation.
Those who violate standards in this Code will be subject to disciplinary action,
up to and including termination of employment. If you are in a situation that
you believe may violate or lead to a violation of this Code, follow the
guidelines described in Section 14 of this Code.
1. Compliance with Laws, Rules and Regulations
Obey the law, both in letter and in spirit, is the foundation on which our
ethical standards are built. All employees must respect and obey the laws of the
cities, states and countries in which we operate. Although not all employees are
expected to know the details of these laws, it is important to know enough about
them to determine when to seek advice from supervisors, managers or other
appropriate personnel.
2. Conflicts of Interest
A "conflict of interest" exists when a person's private interests
interferes in any way with the interests of the Company. A conflict situation
can arise when an employee, officer or director takes actions or has interests
that may make it difficult to perform his or her Company work objectively and
efficiently. Conflicts of interest may also arise when an employee, officer or
director, or members of his or her family, receives improper personal benefits
as a result of his or her position in the Company. Loans to, or guarantees of
obligations of, employees and their family members may create conflicts of
interest.
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It is almost always a conflict of interest for a Company employee to work
simultaneously for a competitor, customer or supplier. You are not allowed to
work for a competitor as a consultant or board member. The best policy is to
avoid any direct or indirect business connection with our customers, suppliers
or competitors, except on our behalf. Conflicts of interest are prohibited as a
matter of Company policy, except under guidelines approved by our Board of
Directors. Conflicts of interest may not always be clear-cut, so if you have a
question, you should consult with higher levels of management. Any employee,
officer or director who becomes aware of a conflict or potential conflict should
bring it to the attention of a supervisor, manager or other appropriate
personnel or consult with the procedures described in Section 14 of this Code.
3. Insider Trading
Employees who have access to confidential information are not permitted to
use or share that information for stock trading purposes or for any other
purpose except the conduct of our business. All non-public information about the
Company should be considered confidential information. To use non-public
information for personal financial benefit or to "tip" others who might make an
investment decision on the basis of this information is not only unethical but
also illegal.
4. Corporate Opportunities
Employees, officer and directors are prohibited from taking for themselves
personally, opportunities that are discovered through the use of corporate
property, information or position without the consent of the Board of Directors.
No employee may use corporate property, information or position for improper
personal gain, and no employee may compete with the Company, directly or
indirectly.
5. Competition and Fair Dealing
We seek to outperform our competition fairly and honestly. Stealing
proprietary information, possessing trade secret information that was obtained
without the owner's consent, or inducing such disclosures by past or present
employees of other companies is prohibited. Each officer, director and employee
should respect the rights of and deal fairly with the Company's customers,
suppliers, competitors and employees. No employee should take unfair advantage
of anyone through manipulation, concealment, abuse of privileged information,
misrepresentation of material facts, or any other intentional unfair-dealing
practice.
The purpose of business entertainment and gifts in a commercial setting is
to create good will and sound working relationships, not to gain unfair
advantage with customers. No gift, or entertainment should ever be offered,
given, provided or accepted by any Company employee, family member of an
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employee or agent, unless it (a) is not in cash, (b) is consistent with
customary business practices, (c) is not excessive in value, (d) cannot be
construed as a bribe or payoff and (e) does not violate any laws or regulations.
Please discuss with your supervisor any gifts or proposed gifts that you are not
certain are appropriate.
6. Discrimination and Harassment
The diversity of the Company's employees is a tremendous asset. We are
firmly committed to providing equal opportunity in all respects aspects of
employment and will not tolerate illegal discrimination or harassment of any
kind.
7. Health and Safety
The Company strives to provide each employee with a safe and healthy work
environment. Each employee has responsibility for maintaining a safe and healthy
workplace for all employees by following safety and health rules and practices
and reporting accidents, injuries and unsafe equipment, practices or conditions.
Violence and threatening behavior are not permitted. Employees should
report to work in condition to perform their duties, free from the influence of
illegal drugs or alcohol. The use of alcohol and/or illegal drugs in the
workplace will not be tolerated.
8. Record-Keeping
The Company requires honest and accurate recording and reporting of
information in order to make responsible business decisions. For example, only
the true and actual number of hours worked should be reported.
Many employees regularly use business expense accounts, which must be
documented and recorded accurately. If you are not sure whether a certain
expense is legitimate, ask your supervisor or the Company's controller or chief
financial officer.
All of the Company's books, records, accounts and financial statements must
be maintained in reasonable detail, must appropriately reflect the Company's
transactions and must conform to both applicable legal requirements and to the
Company's systems of accounting and internal controls. Unrecorded or "off the
books" funds or assets should not be maintained unless permitted by applicable
laws or regulations.
Business records and communications often become public, and we should
avoid exaggeration, derogatory remarks, guesswork or inappropriate
characterizations of people and companies that can be misunderstood. This
applies equally to e-mail, internal memos and formal reports. Records should
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always be retained or destroyed according to the Company's record retention
policies. In accordance with these policies, in the event of litigation or
governmental investigation please consultant your supervisor. All e-mail
communications are the property of the Company and employees, officers and
directors should not expect that Company or personal e-mail communications are
private. All e-mails are the property of the Company. No employee, officer or
director shall use Company computers, including to access the internet, for
personal or non-Company business.
9. Confidentiality
Employees must maintain the confidentiality of confidential information
entrusted to them by the Company or its customers, except when disclosure is
required by laws or regulations. Confidential information includes all
non-public information that might be of use to competitors, or harmful to the
Company or its customers, if disclosed. It also includes information that
suppliers and customers have entrusted to us. The obligation to preserve
confidential information continues even after employment ends. In connection
with this obligation, employees, officers and directors may be required to
execute confidentiality agreements confirming their agreement to be bound not to
disclose confidential information. If you are uncertain whether particular
information is confidential or non-public, please consult your supervisor.
10. Protection and Proper Use of Company Assets
All officers, directors and employees should endeavor to protect the
Company's assets and ensure their efficient use. Theft, carelessness and waste
have a direct impact on the Company's profitability. Any suspected incident of
fraud or theft should be immediately reported for investigation. Company
equipment should not be used for non-Company business.
The obligation of officers, directors and employees to protect the
Company's assets includes its proprietary information. Proprietary information
includes intellectual property such as trade secrets, patents, trademarks and
copyrights, as well as business, marketing and service plans, engineering and
manufacturing ideas, designs, databases, records, salary information and any
unpublished financial data and reports. Unauthorized use or distribution of this
information would violate Company policy. It could also be illegal and result in
civil or even criminal penalties.
11. Payments to Government Personnel
The United States Foreign Corrupt Practices Act prohibits giving anything
of value, directly or indirectly, to officials of foreign governments or foreign
political candidates in order to obtain or retain business. It is strictly
prohibited to make illegal payments to government officials of any country.
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In addition, the U. S. government has a number of laws and regulations
regarding business gratuities that may be accepted by U. S. government
personnel. The promise, offer or delivery to an official or employee of the U.
S. government of a gist, favor or other gratuity in violation of these rules
would not only violate Company policy, but could also be a criminal offense.
State and local governments, as well as foreign governments, may have similar
rules.
12. Waivers of the Code of Business Conduct and Ethics
Any waiver of the provisions of this Code may be made only by the Board of
Directors and will be promptly disclosed as required by law or stock exchange
rule or regulation.
13. Reporting any Illegal or Unethical Behavior
Employees are encouraged to talk with supervisors, managers or Company
officials about observed illegal or unethical behavior, and when in doubt about
the best course of action in a particular situation. It is the Company's policy
not to allow retaliation for reports of misconduct by others made in good faith
by employees. Employees are expected to cooperate in internal investigations of
misconduct, and the failure to do so could serve as grounds for termination. Any
employee may submit a good faith concern regarding questionable accounting or
auditing matters without fear of dismissal or retaliation of any kind.
14. Compliance Procedures
We must all work to ensure prompt and consistent action against violations
of this Code. However, in some situations, it is difficult to know if a
violation has occurred. Since we cannot anticipate every situation that may
arise, it is important that we have a way to approach a new question or problem.
These are steps to keep in mind:
o Make sure you have all the facts. In order to reach the right solutions, we
must be as fully informed as possible.
o Ask yourself, what specifically am I being asked to do - does it seem
unethical or improper? This will enable you to focus on the specific
question you are faced with, and the alternatives you have. Use your
judgment and common sense; if something seems unethical or improper, it
probably is.
o Clarify your responsibility and role. In most situations, there is shared
responsibility. Are your colleagues informed? It may help to get others
involved and discuss the problem.
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o Discuss the problem with your supervisor. This is the basic guidance for
all situations. In many cases, your supervisor will be more knowledgeable
about the question, and will appreciate being brought into the
decision-making process. Keep in mind that it is your supervisor's
responsibility to help solve problems. If your supervisor does not or
cannot remedy the situation, or you are uncomfortable bringing the problem
to the attention of your supervisor, bring the issue to the attention of
the human resources supervisor, or to an officer of the Company.
o You may report ethical violations in confidence and without fear of
retaliation. If your situation requires that your identity be kept secret,
your anonymity will be protected. The Company does not permit retaliation
of any kind for good faith reports of ethical violations.
o Always ask first - act later. If you are unsure of what to do in any
situation, seek guidance before your act.
CODE OF ETHICS FOR THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
AND SENIOR FINANCIAL OFFICER
OF CHINA PHARMA HOLDINGS, INC.
China Pharma Holdings, Inc. (the "Company") has a Code of Business Conduct
and Ethics applicable to all employees, officers and directors of the Company,
its subsidiaries and/or affiliated entities. The Chief Executive Officer ("CEO")
and the senior financial officer of the Company are bound by the provisions set
forth therein relating to ethical conduct, conflicts of interest and compliance
with law. In addition to the Code of Business Conduct and Ethics, the CEO and
the senior financial officer of the Company are also subject to the following
specific policies:
1. The CEO and the senior financial officer are responsible for full, fair,
accurate, timely and understandable disclosure in the periodic reports and other
filings required to be made by the Company with the Securities and Exchange
Commission. Accordingly, it is the responsibility of the CEO and the senior
financial officer promptly to bring to the attention of the Board of Directors
any material information of which he or she may become aware that affects the
disclosures made by the Company in its public filings or otherwise impairs the
ability of the Company to make full, fair, accurate, timely and understandable
public disclosures.
2. The CEO and the senior financial officer shall promptly bring to the
attention of the Company's Audit Committee and the Board of Directors any
information he or she may have concerning (a) significant deficiencies in the
design or operation of internal controls which could adversely affect the
Company's ability to record, process, summarize and report financial data or (b)
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any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees
who have a significant role in the Company's financial reporting, disclosures or
internal controls.
3. The CEO and the senior financial officer shall promptly bring to the
attention of the Board of Directors and the Audit Committee any information he
or she may have concerning any violation of the Company's Code of Business
Conduct and Ethics, including any actual or apparent conflicts of interest
between personal and processional relationships, involving management or other
employees who have a significant rule in the Company's financial reporting,
disclosures or internal controls.
4. The CEO and the senior financial officer shall promptly bring to the
attention of the Board of Directors and Audit Committee any information he or
she may have concerning evidence of a material violation of the securities or
other laws, rules or regulations applicable to the Company and the operation of
its business, by the Company or any agent thereof, or of violation of the Code
of Business Conduct and Ethics or of these additional procedures.
5. The Board of Directors shall determine, or designate appropriate persons
to determine, appropriate actions to be taken in the event of violations of the
Code of Business Conduct and Ethics of these additional procedures by the CEO
and the Company's senior financial officer. Such actions shall be reasonably
designed to deter wrongdoing and to promote accountability for adherence to the
Code of Business Conduct and Ethics and to these additional procedures, and
shall include written notices to the individual involved that the Board has
determined that there has been a violation, censure by the Board, demotion or
reassignment of the individual involved, suspension with or without pay or
benefits (as determined by the Board) and termination of the individual's
employment. In determining what action is appropriate in a particular case, the
Board of Directors or such designee shall take into account all relevant
information, including the nature and severity of the violation, whether the
violation was a single occurrence or repeated occurrences, whether the violation
appears to have been intentional or inadvertent, whether the individual in
question had been advised prior to the violation as to the proper course of
action and whether or not the individual in question had committed other
violations in the past.
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