Setting industry standards from the start
We believe in doing business better. Our internal standards and policies govern all that we do, from the tests we run on our products to the way we source our ingredients. Through our Global Compliance Program and Lacey Act Compliance Programme, we’re strict about how we do business, so you can have peace of mind with every drop.
As part of our commitment to running our business in a compliant manner—from sourcing and producing our essential oils to marketing and selling our products—we have developed a Global Compliance Programme for Young Living’s own, internal operations that outlines a series of mandatory policies and guidelines, as well as Lacey Act policies for suppliers of plant products. The following list includes some of these policies and guidelines that are covered by the Global Compliance Programme:
Young Living Environmental Compliance Policy: Environmental stewardship is a foundational value for Young Living, and compliance with environmental regulations is a priority. The Environmental Compliance Policy is designed to ensure that Young Living employees understand and comply with applicable environmental regulations.
Young Living Employee Handbook: Every Young Living employee is expected and required to act with honesty, integrity and in compliance with applicable legal restrictions. The Employee Handbook provides a summary of employee rules and responsibilities and is intended to provide employees with a general understanding of Young Living policies.
Lacey Act Compliance Programme: As part of Young Living’s commitment to comply with applicable laws and regulations wherever it does business, Young Living has developed a robust Lacey Act Compliance Programme, which requires all plant product suppliers to assist with ensuring compliance to the Lacey Act and laws protecting plants and regulating the trade of plant products.
Global Trade Controls Compliance Policy: Young Living is dedicated to compliance with export controls and trade in economic sanctions.
DSA Code of Ethics: As a member of the Direct Selling Association (DSA), Young Living is committed to maintaining the highest standards of business conduct in our global operations.
As an industry leader, Young Living is committed to complying with applicable laws and regulations related to the protection of plants and wildlife. As part of this commitment, Young Living has developed the Lacey Act Compliance Programme.
The Lacey Act is the oldest wildlife protection statute in the United States. Originally enacted in 1900 to protect animal species, this law was expanded by Congress in 1981 to cover certain plants and plant products taken in violation of U.S. domestic law. In 2008, Congress again expanded coverage of the Lacey Act to include all types of plants and animal materials. The 2008 amendment was the first ban on wood and plant products that sought to target illegal harvest activities outside the United States and to provide better transparency into the source and species of plant and plant products being imported into the United States.
The Lacey Act makes it a federal crime to import, export, transport, receive, buy or sell plants or plant products, including essential oils and other plant-derived products, taken or traded in violation of domestic or foreign laws designed to protect plants, and shipped to or within the United States. The Lacey Act creates a ‘due care’ standard, defined as ‘that degree of care which a reasonably prudent person would exercise under the same or similar circumstances,’ to encourage inquiry into legal harvest and sourcing of plant products.
Young Living has invested over four years of focused efforts in the development and implementation of this robust and comprehensive compliance program. Through these efforts and engagement with Lacey Act specialised counsel, local counsel from around the world, and environmental experts, Young Living has developed itself as an expert and pioneer for ensuring Lacey Act compliance within the essential oils industry.
Young Living exercises due care and diligence through regular research, review, and validation of relevant information regarding plant products imported from foreign suppliers and purchased from domestic suppliers, merchandise sold in its stores, and the individuals and organisations with which Young Living conducts business. To assist in accomplishing due care and diligence efforts, Young Living has identified five pertinent steps for all plant products and plant product suppliers:
Supplier education: Provide all domestic and foreign suppliers of plant products with training materials to educate them about the Lacey Act and its requirements and obligations, and to solicit cooperation with compliance efforts as a condition for doing business with Young Living.
Supplier evaluation: All new and existing plant product suppliers are evaluated for Lacey Act risk and compliance through regular research of certain product and supplier risk factors, including understanding whether a particular plant species is rare or has its harvest restricted, the corruption of the plant harvesting industry within the country of harvest, the availability of supply-chain documentation and transparency in the supply chain, and legal restrictions and validation requirements for verifying legal sourcing. Given the complexity of the essential oils and plant-derived products industry, some due care efforts may require substantial involvement from third-party auditors specialising in environmental and regulatory compliance, local counsel and in-country contacts.
Supplier certification: As a condition for engaging in continued business with Young Living, all Young Living plant product suppliers must certify their compliance and cooperation with Young Living’s Lacey Act compliance efforts, including working within their own supply chains to implement their own sourcing standards and practices.
Risk assessment: All plant products and suppliers are independently assessed and assigned a risk category to determine the level of business approvals and scrutiny needed to engage in business with a supplier or source a plant product.
Auditing/monitoring: Regular and ongoing audit and monitoring is performed on all essential oils and essential oil suppliers and may include auditing of purchase order supply chain and legalities, auditing of legal requirements and evidence of compliance, and, as applicable, conducting in-person audits at the suppliers’ harvest facilities and sites.
Young Living’s Lacey Act Compliance Programme sets the precedent for the essential oils and plant-derived products industry and demonstrates Young Living’s commitment to lead the wellness movement by protecting delicate landscapes and plants.
Young Living sources products from carefully vetted corporate-owned farms, partner farms that share our values and Seed to Seal-verified suppliers who can meet our extremely high standards for quality.
As mavericks of the modern-day essential oils movement, we’ve revolutionised the world of essential oils, investing countless hours and resources in product development, research and testing.
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