Compliance
Basic Approach
The Group is committed to thorough compliance and has designated high ethical standards as a core element of the Group Philosophy and the Group Code of Conduct.
ENEOS Group Code of Conduct (excerpt)
- 1.Compliance
- (1)We ensure compliance with laws, contracts, and corporate regulations and follow social norms and customs in an appropriate manner.
- (2)We shall neither ignore nor participate in any compliance violations.
Structure
The ENEOS Group Internal Control and Compliance Committee has been established under the Executive Council to ensure the implementation of effective and efficient internal control and compliance. Through 2023, the committee, comprising relevant officers and department general managers, regularly confirmed the performance of and issues related to the Group’s internal control and compliance activities and deliberated policies for future activities (see Comprehensive Internal Control Structure).
With regard to the compliance system, in April 2024, we established the ENEOS Group Compliance Committee, chaired by the CCO. The committee meets once a quarter to confirm the status of compliance activities at each principal operating company and to strengthen and advance the implementation of Group compliance measures and the sharing of information.
Material Issues, Plans and Results
Fiscal 2023 Targets, Results and Progress
Evaluation:Achieved/Steady progressNot achieved
Material ESG Issue | Initiative | Target (KPI) | Results/Progress | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Compliance | Legal compliance inspections | Conduct legal compliance inspections | Implemented | |
Implement training on important laws and regulations | Provide legal training related to business needs and issues within the Group | Implemented | ||
Operation of whistleblower systems |
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Major Initiatives
Internal Control and Legal Compliance Inspections
We conduct internal control and legal compliance inspections annually as a voluntary initiative at each work site.
We inspect each business operation to ascertain compliance with Group-wide rules (internal control standards) and whether the corporate culture values integrity and ethics. In addition, given the rapidly changing management environment, we use a risk control matrix to ascertain whether risks have been appropriately identified and assessed, and whether effective controls for these risks have been developed and implemented.
We also utilize interviews of all staff by managers to identify compliance issues, including questions and concerns, in order to prevent legal violations and to identify and correct any issues at an early stage.
The Group identified approximately 640 compliance issues, questions, and concerns in fiscal 2023. None of the issues significantly impacted management. The Group resolved 80% of the issues within the fiscal year and is taking steps to promptly address the remaining 20% of unresolved issues.
The compliance inspection systems at the Company and ENEOS were revised in April 2024 to allow departments and business sites to conduct inspections more autonomously and effectively by enabling each department or business site to inspect the status of compliance under the direction of the officer in charge and in accordance with its own specific risks.
Compliance Violations
Deficiencies under the High Pressure Gas Safety Act at ENEOS
In fiscal 2023, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry cited deficiencies under the High Pressure Gas Safety Act and on June 9, 2023, revoked certification of ENEOS Corporation as an Accredited Completion Inspection Executor for the Ukishima North Area and Ukishima South Area of the Kawasaki Refinery (including certification of the Ukishima North Area as a Specified Accredited Completion Inspection Executor under the Regulation on Safety of Industrial Complexes). To prevent recurrence of a similar situation, ENEOS is implementing prevention measures, including steps to ensure a high level of safety awareness and strengthen the safety management system. As part of these efforts, the company is implementing measures such as training on the High Pressure Gas Safety Act and overall compliance for all refinery staff, including staff at business sites certified to handle high-pressure gas.
We are also working to restore trust as quickly as possible by broadening and strengthening compliance initiatives throughout the Group.
Compliance Training
Strong awareness among all officers and employees is an important element in achieving thorough compliance. To this end, we issue ENEOS Group Philosophy cards and ENEOS Group Code of Conduct handbooks to all personnel and regularly provide compliance training for officers and employees.
We will continue to provide training based on select topics as part of our ongoing efforts to ensure thorough compliance.
Compliance Training Conducted in Fiscal 2023 (Partial List)
- Company-wide training on the necessity of compliance, competition laws, anti-bribery, the Act on the Protection of Personal Information, and insider trading regulations
- Harassment prevention training and training on the Subcontract Act and prevention of disguised contracting for branch offices, refineries, and plants
- Anti-monopoly law training for sales departments
- Compliance awareness training for officers (human rights and compliance training, mandatory participation in compliance training for employees)
Establishment and Operation of Whistleblower Systems
Whistleblowing Workflow

To enable prompt detection and corrective action in the event of legal violations, the Company and some of its subsidiaries maintain compliance hotlines for their employees and those of contractor companies.
The compliance hotlines are part of whistleblower systems aligned with the Whistleblower Protection Act.
In October 2023, the Company and ENEOS’s internal whistleblower contact was replaced with a centralized whistleblower contact operated by an external company specializing in these services. Outsourcing whistleblowing operations enables faster response and improved convenience for users, while also enabling us to maintain the quality of our operations. This structure facilitates appropriate response by allowing users to identify themselves or remain anonymous and depending on the case, enabling whistleblowing through contact points established at each ENEOS Group company. We have also introduced whistleblower systems, including some with multilingual capabilities, for overseas subsidiaries where we have ownership of more than 50%.
Based on internal regulations, when whistleblowing is received, the content is reported to the relevant officers, including the chairman and CEO, and an investigation is launched under the responsibility of the general manager of the Legal & Corporate Affairs Department. The investigation results and any necessary corrective and recurrence prevention measures are reported to the officers. Individuals who identify themselves when conducting whistleblowing are also informed of the investigation results.
To ensure that employees do not hesitate to use the system, they are informed through the intranet, posters, and training that the identity of those conducting whistleblowing is strictly confidential and that whistleblowing can be conducted even if the employee is not sure if the matter constitutes a legal violation.
In fiscal 2023, the Group recorded 341 reports via its whistleblower systems.
Reporting Contact Structure and Measures to Prevent Retaliation
The Legal & Corporate Affairs Department is responsible for the design and operation of the whistleblower systems of the Company and ENEOS. Members of the Legal & Corporate Affairs Department may also use the system. The ENEOS Group Basic Policy on Internal Reporting System stipulates that whistleblowers shall not be subject to any disadvantageous treatment for using the whistleblower systems, and information related to whistleblower reporting shall be treated as strictly confidential in accordance with the information security guidelines of each ENEOS Group company.
Compliance with Competition Laws
The Group maintains a policy that the entire Group must thoroughly comply with competition laws in Japan and other countries. We have put into place necessary company rules, and all officers and employees work under a clear commitment by management to ensure compliance with competition laws.
Specifically, we have established the ENEOS Group Competition Law Compliance Policy, which strictly prohibits officers and employees from engaging in any activity, including cartels, that violates competition laws of any country. The policy clearly states that no activity that would violate competition laws shall be justified by any reason of business custom, the authority or position of the violator, maintaining or expanding business or making profits.
The legal divisions of the Company and ENEOS check each department every year for planned interactions with business competitors, assess those interactions for competition law risks, and request the submission of meeting records detailing the interactions. Through these and other efforts, we work to prevent competition law violations before they occur.
We also conduct competition law compliance training for officers and employees on a regular and ongoing basis.
Operation of the Competition Law Compliance Policy
The Group has established and published the ENEOS Group Competition Law Compliance Policy pursuant to the basic principle of compliance with competition laws set out in “7. Equitable and fair transactions” in the ENEOS Group Code of Conduct. This policy clearly states the Group’s commitment to comply with competition laws.
We will communicate this policy to and require compliance of all those within the scope of application of the ENEOS Group Code of Conduct. In addition to implementing this policy within the Group, we will also request that the companies and others that make up our value chain also cooperate with this policy.
Prevention of Bribery and Corruption
The Group participates in the United Nations Global Compact, and puts the 10 principles, including anti-corruption, into practice. We have established and published the ENEOS Group Anti-Corruption Policy, which clearly states that the Group will not engage in corrupt practices. With regard to anti-corruption, the Group does not tolerate bribery in any form. We have internal regulations in place to prevent bribery at our Group companies, and all officers and employees actively work under a clear commitment by management of all Group companies to prevent bribery. ENEOS requires overseas subsidiaries where it has ownership of more than 50% to establish and comply with anti-bribery guidelines.
The Company, ENEOS, and its overseas subsidiaries have a mechanism to check for bribery involving travel expenses, business entertainment, gift giving, and donations, taking into consideration the laws and regulations of each country.
We also implement third-party due diligence procedures to prevent our involvement in bribery through a third party such as an agent, agency, or distributor.
Employees can access relevant internal regulations at any time via the Company intranet or other means. They also undergo various forms of compliance training on the prevention of bribery. In this manner, we are working to raise employee awareness of this important issue.
Internal controls, legal compliance inspections, and internal audits are used to continuously monitor whether these mechanisms are functioning properly. The results of monitoring are reported to the Company’s Board of Directors.
The Company, ENEOS, and its overseas subsidiaries also maintain risk screening systems for domestic and overseas business partners using services provided by specialized vendors, and conduct risk checks in a timely manner. In addition, we conduct risk surveys at the commencement of business relationships with new business partners, and if risks are indicated, we take necessary risk mitigation measures and determine whether or not to commence the business relationships. We also have a system in place to promptly detect and rectify problems through our whistleblower systems.
In fiscal 2023, there were no serious violations and no fines, administrative monetary penalties or settlements imposed regarding corruption or bribery. In addition, no internal disciplinary action was taken in connection with corruption or bribery.
Operation of the Anti-Corruption Policy
Based on the basic rules on the prevention of bribery and corruption established within “7. Equitable and fair transactions” and “8. Appropriate relationships with governments and public administrations” of the ENEOS Group Code of Conduct, the Group formulated and published the ENEOS Group Anti-Corruption Policy, which clearly stipulates that the Group will not engage in corrupt practices.
Going forward, we will continue to raise awareness of and require compliance with this policy within the scope of application of the ENEOS Group Code of Conduct. In addition to applying this policy within the Group, we will request the cooperation of companies in our value chain as well.
Political Contributions
The Group thoroughly complies with Japan’s Political Funds Control Act. The Group prohibits contributions to individual politicians as prohibited by law and monetary donations to specified political groups or political parties exceeding the legally permitted threshold.
In fiscal 2023, the Group did not make any political contributions (donations).
Honoring Tax Liabilities
Companies have a corporate social responsibility to appropriately honor their tax liabilities in the countries and areas in which they conduct their business activities. Therefore, we have formulated the ENEOS Group Tax Matters Policy to ensure that tax liabilities are appropriately honored throughout the entire Group.
Timely and Proper Disclosure of Company Information
Disclosure Framework and Workflow

The Company is fully aware that the timely and proper disclosure of corporate information is a key element of healthy capital markets. Accordingly, the Company makes efforts to ensure prompt, appropriate, and fair disclosure of information to shareholders and other investors with the aim of promoting transparency in management.
Systems are in place to obtain, manage, and disclose information on the Company, as well as information on ENEOS Group companies, quickly and accurately. Information that is subject to the Timely Disclosure Rules is made public through the timely disclosure system (TDnet) provided by the Tokyo Stock Exchange and others, and the same information is made available on the Company’s website. Information that is not subject to the Timely Disclosure Rules is disclosed proactively based on basic policies and disclosure standards.
The Company has prepared Rules for the Prevention of Insider Trading, and systems have been created to communicate regulations regarding insider trading throughout the ENEOS Group.