Code of Ethics

Members of the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC) are expected to exhibit the highest standards of integrity and professionalism. To ensure a strong and successful organization, our activities require honesty and equity and should reflect well on the Society. In the spirit of promoting Environmental Quality Through Science®, members should strive to be good stewards of environmental resources and effective and objective contributors to the environmental discussion globally as well as locally.

Professional behavior and integrity are also expected of every attendee (members and non-members alike) of SETAC meetings, workshops and activities.

Each member and all persons participating in SETAC meetings and activities are bound by this Code of Ethics and should:

• Conduct themselves responsibly, objectively, lawfully and in a non-discriminatory manner.
• Ensure that presentations during Society-sponsored events and other communications are restricted to, and based on scientific principles and made in a respectful manner.
• Respect the rights, interests, and contributions of professional colleagues.
• Respect intellectual property and provide appropriate attribution for all intellectual property arising elsewhere.
• Declare and avoid conflicts of interest
• Not knowingly make false or misleading statements, or engage in activities that could be viewed as defamatory about a professional colleague or an organization.
• Recognize and respect confidentiality while being honest and forthcoming in all issues of public record.
• Objectively and clearly communicate scientific methods, understanding and knowledge in a professional manner
• Conduct research and related activities so as to avoid or minimize adverse environmental effects of that research, and ensure compliance with legal requirements for protection of researchers, human subjects, and research organisms and systems.

SETAC Animals in Research Guidance Statement

Consistent with our long-standing interests in environmental protection, conservation, education, research, and the general well-being of organisms (animals and plants), the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry supports the following principles (in accordance with applicable country-specific laws and regulations).

• Respect for all life forms and systems is an inherent characteristic of environmental professionals; the respectful treatment of organisms is both an ethical and a scientific necessity.
• Methods designed to reduce, refine, or replace the need for experimental organisms are advocated.
• In the absence of data, research with experimental organisms is the most reliable means of identifying toxic properties of chemicals and other environmental stressors and for establishing risks to environmental health.
• Care must be exercised to avoid introduction of exotic/non-indigenous organisms to natural environments.