Code of Ethics

Board of Chemistry
The profession of chemistry is and has become an increasingly important factor in the welfare of human society so much so that its link with the progress of civilization was definitely recognized by Congress of the Philippines, when it enacted on June 18, 1952, Republic Act No. 754, otherwise known as the Chemistry Law. This act gave the chemists in the Philippines due recognition and enabled them to discharge properly their responsibilities and to render efficient service to the public. To maintain the honor, integrity, and dignity of the members of the chemistry profession, the Board has promulgated this Code of Ethics defining and setting forth the rules of professional conduct for their proper observance and guidance. Section 1. Every chemist, upon being admitted into the profession, shall be entitled to the full professional fellowship of his fellow chemists and shall be obliged to advance the art and science of chemistry, to safeguard and uphold its standard of honor, and to conform to as well as abide by the principles of ethical conduct set forth herein. Section 2. It shall be the duty of every chemist to observe faithfully the laws, rules and regulations and to bear the responsibilities pertaining to his profession. Section 3. A chemist shall not deliberately engage in work which by its nature is illegal or immoral, nor shall he cooperate with those who are so engaged. Section 4. He shall refrain from associating with, or from the following, the use of his name by, persons or entities of questionable character. Section 5. He shall not act in any manner or engage in any activity or practice that casts, or tends to bring, discredit or dishonor to the dignity of the chemistry profession. Section 6. He shall perform his professional work in a manner that is not only fair and reasonable to employers, subordinates, contractors, and clients but also in a spirit of friendliness and harmony with the other members of his profession. Section 7. He shall advertise only in a dignified and conventional manner, taking care not to cheapen the profession by using vulgar notices or false and misleading statements. Section 8. He shall assist in improving and elevating the standard of the profession by exchanging relevant information and experience with his fellow chemists through the press or technical societies of which they are members where such information does not conflict with the interest of his client or employer. It is desirable that chemical inventions and researches be first published in scientific journals and magazines instead of in the newspapers and that due care be taken so that credit for such technical work is given only to the real authors or inventors thereof. Section 9. If, in his opinion the work requested of a chemist by his clients or employers poses certain doubts as to its being productive of successful results, he shall so advise them before undertaking the work. Section 10. He shall be conservative in all his estimates especially so if these pertain to the promotion of business enterprises and shall endeavor to be fair and accurate in his reports, testimony, statements, etc. Section 11. For any kind of work done, he shall not accept compensation, financial or otherwise, from any party or parties interested therein except from the one who engaged his services. He shall not accept any commission from outside parties on sales to clients or employers without their knowledge or consent. He shall, however, be free to accept employment from more than one employer where there are no conflict of interest. Section 12. He shall not resort to any unfair, improper or dubious method in securing professional work and shall decline to accept payment or commission for such work. Section 13. In securing professional work or employment, he shall use only fair and honest means and shall refrain from injuring whether directly or indirectly, the professional reputation, prospects or business of his fellow chemist. In work or employment already given to fellow chemists, he shall not seek to have them replaced in order to promote his own interest. Section 14. He shall not knowingly accept employment from a client or employer against whom there is a pending claim for compensation and/or damages filed by a fellow chemist previously

employed by the same client or employer, until such claim is finally settled through arbitration or by the courts of justice or is not pressed through sheer neglect or abandonment. Section 15. It shall be his duty to expose and bring to the attention of proper authorities any error, fraud, deceit or irregularity committed by fellow chemists in the practice of their profession, of which he has knowledge. Section 16. He shall report any infraction of these rules and professional conduct to the Ethics Committee of the national association of chemists for proper appraisal so that if the facts so warrant, the matter may be referred for appropriate action to the Board of Examiners for Chemists or to other legally constituted authorities with jurisdiction over such infractions. Section 17. He shall not compete or attempt to compete with fellow chemists by reducing or offering to reduce the usual rates charged for his work in order to underbid his competitors. Section 18. When holding any government position or office of public trust, he shall not take undue advantage thereof nor shall he engage in activities offering competition or causing damage to private practitioners of the profession. Section 19. He shall not accept any engagement to review the professional work of his fellow chemists, except journal articles, scientific publications and similar matters, without the knowledge of such chemists unless their connection with the work is completely severed. Section 20. Upon undertaking work for a client or employer, he shall enter into an agreement regarding ownership of any and all data, plans, improvements, patents, designs or other records which may develop or discover while in the employ of such a client or employer. In the absence of a written agreement, the following principles shall be held to apply: a. When a chemist uses information obtainable only from his client or employer, which is not common knowledge or public property, any result in the form of design, plans, inventions, processes, etc., shall be regarded as the property of the employer. b. When a chemist uses his knowledge or information or date which by prior publication or otherwise is public property, then the results in the form of designs, plans, inventions, processes, etc., remain the property of the chemist, and the client or employer is entitled to their use only in the case for which the chemist is retained. c. All work and results accomplished by the chemist outside of the field for which he was employed or retained shall remain his property. d. Special data or information obtain by a chemist from his client or employer or which he creates as a result thereof is to be held and considered confidential, and while it is ethical to use data or information in his practice as forming part of his professional experience, its publication without prior permission of his client or employer is highly improper. Section 21. He shall, as far as practicable, charge fees at such rates as are reasonable enough to warrant complete and adequate service in consulting work. Extremely low charges for professional services tend to produce inferior and unsatisfactory work; hence, in fixing the fees, it is proper to take into account the following considerations. a. The time and labor involved, novelty and difficulty of the work, and experience and skill necessary. b. Whether the employment precludes work along similar lines or involves financial sacrifice due to giving up of other business. c. Customary charges of chemists for similar work or services. d. The magnitude of the matter involved and the benefits accruing to the client as a result of the services rendered; and e. The character of the employment, whether casual, temporary or permanent. Section 22. While it is desirable that chemists engage in teaching and research and be permitted to use their technical knowledge and skill in their service to individual clients, they should strive not to prejudice the welfare of the profession by disregarding such factors as ordinary costs of equipment, supplies and overhead expenses in charging fees for their services. Section 23. After fixing a fair or reasonable fee for work done to a client, he should oppose any effort on the part of the latter to have the fee reduced without valid or justifiable reason therefore. Wherever compatible with selfrespect and the right to receive just and reasonable recompense for services rendered, controversies with clients regarding compensation should be minimized, if not altogether avoided. He should, however, not hesitate to apply to the courts for redress so as to correct or prevent any injustice, deceit, or fraud perpetrated on him by his clients. Section 24. This Code of Ethics shall take effect on its approval by the Office of the President.