Supplier Expectations

Brochure
 T he chain of value created by the
Coca-Cola system begins with the
products and services you provide to us.
Delivering the highest quality requires
consistent execution—by us, our bottling
partners, our distributors and our retailers.
But it starts with you, our suppliers.

Because quality is at the core of our business, your success is essential

to our success. This second edition of the Supplier Expectations
Brochure represents our commitment to working together with you
toward continuous improvement and quality in everything we do.

Thank you for your commitment.

Neville Isdell
Chairman, Board of Directors
and Chief Executive Officer of The Coca-Cola Company

Quality
Qual
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Contents
I. Introduction.......................................................................................................... 4

II. Supplier Performance Expectations...................................................... 7

A. Quality Systems............................................................................................... 7

B. Quality Programs............................................................................................ 7

C. Supplier Guiding Principles........................................................................... 10

D. Purchased Materials \ Services............................................................... 12

E. Process Monitoring and Control........................................................... 12

F. Finished Product Management................................................................. 13

G. Food Safety........................................................................................................ 14

H. Chemical Residue and Contamination Control........................... 17

I. Traceability............................................................................................................ 17

J. Scientific and Regulatory Affairs............................................................... 18

K. Regulatory Actions Notification............................................................. 19

L. Change Control Management Process.............................................. 20

M. Auditor Access................................................................................................ 21

N. Security................................................................................................................. 21

O. Legal Contracts............................................................................................... 23

P. Compliance with Laws.................................................................................. 24

Q. Confidentiality.................................................................................................. 24

R. Code of Business Conduct............................................................................ 25

III. Glossary............................................................................................................... 26
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I. Introduction
The Coca-Cola Company
exists to benefit and refresh
everyone it touches

The Coca-Cola Company exists to in ensuring the quality and integrity of our
benefit and refresh everyone it touches. beverages. Whether you’re a current or
More than 1 billion times every day potential supplier of ingredients, packaging
consumers choose our beverages for materials, sales and marketing equipment,
refreshment, and they expect top quality or a contract packer or manufacturer,
every time. Achieving this requires this publication will provide you with
flawless execution across the entire highlights of our supplier expectations and
supply chain, and as a supplier to the authorization requirements.
Coca-Cola system, you play a vital role

A bout The Coca-Cola Company

The Coca-Cola Company is the world’s We serve our local markets with a wide
leading manufacturer, marketer and variety of beverages, spanning the entire
distributor of non-alcoholic beverage spectrum of tastes and beverage-
concentrates and syrups, which are
serving occasions. Understanding local
used by a network of bottling partners
cultures, including preferences in work,
to produce more than 400 beverage
recreation, and relaxation activities, is
brands. Our corporate headquarters is
essential for developing sustainable
in Atlanta, Georgia, with operations in
global business growth.
more than 200 countries worldwide.

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In addition to providing top-quality beverages, and diversity. We strive to be a good neighbor,

we contribute to communities around the consistently shaping our business decisions to
world through our commitment to programs improve the quality of life in the communities
for education, health, wellness, the environment where we do business.

Quality In Everything We Do
For us, quality is more than just something on the results that must be achieved and are not
we taste, see or measure. Quality shows in designed to be prescriptive. Although each supplier
our every action. We relentlessly strive to must achieve the same end results, exactly how
exceed the world’s ever-changing expectations, that is done may vary from location to location and
because providing top-quality products to the from process to process.
marketplace is our highest business objective. And while delivering top-quality products is
To efficiently accomplish this, the Company certainly at the core of our business, there are
relies on the The Coca-Cola Quality System other expectations associated with that, such as
(TCCQS). TCCQS is our branded quality responsible corporate citizenship and personal
management system. Developed by a global, integrity.
cross-functional team and endorsed by senior
management of The Coca-Cola Company,
along with our top bottling partners, TCCQS
is the framework within which the Coca-Cola
system coordinates and guides its activities,
drives continuous improvement, and constantly
strives for quality in everything we do. TCCQS
supports the four principles of our corporate
citizenship framework— enriching the
workplace, providing quality in the marketplace,
preserving the environment and strengthening
the community. TCCQS reflects our integrated
approach to managing quality, the environment,
and health and safety. TCCQS incorporates
tenets of other international quality systems
like ISO 9000.

Understanding Our Expectations

You’ll find our supplier expectations highlighted
here in one reference. These expectations focus

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You’ll find quality (food safety, • Traceability

product integrity) expectations
• Scientific and Regulatory Affairs
highlighted in the following sections:
• Security
• Quality Systems
Corporate citizenship expectations
• Quality Programs
such as employment practices,
• Purchased Materials \ Services workplace safety and environmental
practices are in the following section:
• Process Monitoring and Control
• Supplier Guiding Principles
• Finished Product Management

• Food Safety Communication expectations are in

the following sections:
• Chemical Residue
and Contamination Control • Regulatory Actions Notification

• Change Control Management Process

• Auditor Access

• Legal Contracts

• Compliance with Laws

• Confidentiality

Expectations regarding honesty and

integrity in day-to-day activities are
in the following section:

• Code of Business Conduct

Our local Company divisions or individual

receiving locations (such as bottling plants)
may also have business or plant-specific
expectations. These should be clearly
communicated to you as part of the
procurement process.

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II. Supplier Performance

Expectations
compliance with The Coca-Cola Company
specifications, regulatory requirements and
A. Quality Systems the expectations outlined in this brochure.
There must be a process in place to ensure
the most current policies, programs, formulas
 Policy and procedures are properly distributed to
Suppliers must have an effectively functional areas of the supplier’s facility.
implemented quality system that ensures
Periodic audits of the quality system must
consistent delivery of high-quality products
be conducted by the supplier in order to
and services to the Coca-Cola system
verify the system’s effectiveness as well as to
(The Coca-Cola Company and its bottling
identify opportunities for improvement.
partners).

 Definitions
Quality System:
(1) A collection of procedures, activities, B. Quality Programs
organizational structures and engineering
controls (both formal and informal)
employed to respond to applicable  Policy
requirements by directing and regulating Suppliers must effectively implement the
quality assurance activities. quality programs outlined in this section as
part of their quality system.
(2) The organizational structure,
responsibilities, procedures, processes and  Definition
resources needed for implementing quality Quality Program: An individual
management. Organizational structure, component of the overall quality system
policies, programs and procedures needed that is designed and implemented to
to manage product safety and quality. address a specific set of quality issues, risks
or concerns. A quality program can include
 Requirements
a broad collection of procedures, activities,
The quality system must be documented. organizational structures and engineering
The system must include policies, programs controls.
and procedures that are designed to ensure

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 Requirements Good Laboratory Practice

Quality Programs that must be in place Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) embodies a
include, but are not limited to, the set of principles that provides a framework in
following: which laboratory tests are planned, performed,
monitored, recorded, reported and archived.
Conformance to Specifications These tests are undertaken to generate
At a minimum, suppliers to data to assess the hazards and risks to users,
The Coca-Cola Company must have policies consumers and third parties (including the
and procedures in place to ensure that environment), of exposure to pharmaceuticals,
products provided to The Coca-Cola agrochemicals, cosmetics, food and feed
Company meet specifications. additives and contaminants, novel foods
and biocides. GLP helps assure regulatory
Good Manufacturing Practice authorities that the data submitted is a true
At a minimum, all plant personnel, visitors and reflection of the results obtained during the
outside contractors must comply with Good testing and can therefore be relied upon when
Manufacturing Practice (GMP) requirements making risk \ safety assessments.
as set forth by current laws and regulations.
In the absence of local laws and regulations, All plant and contract laboratories and
use Good Manufacturing Practice (Title 21, laboratory personnel must implement GLP
Part 110 – United States Code of Federal principles based upon current laws and
Regulations or current European Union Food regulations. In the absence of local laws and
Safety Guidelines) as a reference. regulations, use Good Laboratory Practice
(Title 21, Part 58 - United States Code of
Federal Regulations or current European
GMP relates to the manufacturing,
Union Food Safety Guidelines) as a reference.
processing and storing of food materials
to assure the food materials are safe
The laboratory must use published,
for human consumption and have been
recognized and validated testing methods.
prepared, packed and stored under sanitary
Where published test methods are not
conditions. This includes the prevention of
available, internally developed
any type of contamination. Good
methods must be validated for
Manufacturing Practice requires
their intended use consistent with
correctly designed and constructed
GLP requirements. The way the
buildings and equipment,
lab is equipped, arranged and
adequate training of personnel
managed must ensure test results
to produce quality food materials
are consistent and reliable.
and properly maintained plant
conditions.

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Personnel Training
Suppliers must have planned, functional
and effective training processes for
employees who have responsibility for
controlling, manufacturing, moving or
storing products for The Coca-Cola
Company.
Suppliers must ensure all permanent
and contract employees are trained,
qualified and skilled to perform their
assigned responsibilities. equipment and the facility. The program
must also ensure that all ingredients,
Pest Control packaging, in-process components and
finished goods storage areas, shipping
A documented pest control program must
trailers, cars and containers are clean and
be in place to effectively prevent pest
pest-free.
activity in the facility and/or surrounding
Only cleaning chemicals that are approved
area. This program must be managed by
for use in food manufacturing facilities are
trained plant personnel. Pest control
permitted to be used for the specific
activities must be performed by certified
purpose intended. Programs for managing
pest control operators or personnel with
facility housekeeping must be included in
equivalent training.
the supplier’s plant sanitation controls. A
Use of all insecticides, fungicides or
system for verifying and documenting the
rodenticides must be in accordance with
effectiveness of the sanitation program must
current local laws and regulations of the
be in place.
location where products are produced as
well as the laws and regulations of the Facilities and Equipment Design
destination to which the products may be Facilities and equipment used to
delivered. Technical supplements may specify manufacture, handle or store materials
other requirements. must be appropriately designed and suitable
for their intended use.
Housekeeping and
Sanitation Controls
Facilities and equipment must be maintained
A documented sanitation and housekeeping to preclude potential contamination by or
program must be in place that meets all exposure to outside elements, odorous
regulatory requirements and ensures substances, pests, hazardous materials and
the cleanliness of the food handling microbial contaminants.

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C. Supplier Guiding Principles

 Policy
Suppliers to The Coca-Cola Company
must support fair employment practices
consistent with a commitment to human
rights in the workplace and provide a safe
working environment. Suppliers to and
suppliers authorized by The Coca-Cola
Record Keeping Company must abide by all applicable laws,
including local laws addressing working
Suppliers must design and implement a
hours, compensation, employees’ right to
program that ensures that records are
choose whether to be represented by
adequate, confirm adherence to specified
a third party and to bargain collectively,
standards and demonstrate quality
working conditions and other such
system effectiveness.
workplace practices.

Records must be maintained, legible, readily  Requirements

identifiable and retrievable. At a minimum, suppliers to The Coca-Cola
Company and suppliers authorized by The
Corrective \ Preventive
Action Program Coca-Cola Company will be required to
meet the following standards with respect
Each facility must design and implement a
to their operations, as a whole:
corrective \ preventive action program that
• Laws and Regulations - Supplier will
ensures action is taken to eliminate the
comply with all applicable laws, rules,
cause of existing and potential non-
regulations and requirements in the
conformances in order to prevent
manufacture and distribution of our
occurrence \ recurrence. The corrective
products and supplies and in providing
action program must be evaluated
services to The Coca-Cola Company.
periodically to drive continuous
improvement, and corrective actions • Child Labor - Supplier will not use
that are taken as a result of the program child labor as defined by local law.
must be reviewed to ensure effectiveness. • Forced Labor - Supplier will not use
forced or compulsory labor.
• Abuse of Labor - Supplier will not
physically abuse labor.

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• Freedom of Association &

Collective Bargaining - Supplier
will comply with all applicable local
laws on freedom of association and
collective bargaining.
• Discrimination - Supplier will
comply with all applicable local
discrimination laws.
• Wages and Benefits - Wages and
benefits will comply with local law.
• Working Hours and Overtime -
Working hours and overtime will
comply with local law.
• Health and Safety - Working conditions
will comply with local regulations.
• Environment - Supplier will comply
with all applicable environmental laws. between it and The Coca-Cola Company
and its subsidiaries, without penalty
These minimum requirements are part to The Coca-Cola Company and its
of all new or renewed commercial subsidiaries, but with obligations to
agreements between The Coca-Cola remedy direct damages suffered by
Company and its direct suppliers. The Coca-Cola Company and its subsidiaries.

Suppliers must be able to demonstrate

their compliance with these requirements
at the request of and to the satisfaction of
The Coca-Cola Company. The Coca-Cola
Company has the right to inspect any site
involved in work for The Coca-Cola
Company.

Any supplier that fails to satisfy

The Coca-Cola Company of its compliance
is subject to termination of any agreements

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sanctions, and specially designated nationals

D. Purchased Materials \ (SDNs) or blocked persons. A list of SDNs
Services and blocked persons is maintained on the
United States Department of Treasury Web
site at:
 Policy www.treas.gov/offices/enforcement/ofac/sdn.
Suppliers must have controls in place to
ensure purchased materials and services Purchased Materials \ Services: Materials
comply with specifications and applicable or services purchased by suppliers for use in the
laws and regulations. production of their finished products.
 Requirements
 Definitions
A program must be in place to approve and
Applicable Laws and Regulations: The
monitor the performance of suppliers of
laws and regulations governing the location
purchased materials.
in which products are produced, the
laws and regulations of the destination to Suppliers must have written specifications
which products may be delivered, and the for purchased materials. Specifications must
laws and regulations of the United States be written in accordance with applicable
pertaining to embargo, economic and trade laws and regulations as well as the
requirements of The Coca‑Cola Company.
Suppliers warrant that materials \ services
purchased from their approved suppliers
must meet specifications that have
been established.
A system must be in place to prevent the
use of purchased materials that do not
meet specifications.

E. Process Monitoring
and Control

 Policy
Suppliers must design and implement a
process monitoring and control program

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that ensures all products are manufactured

in compliance with The Coca-Cola
Company specifications.

 Requirements
Suppliers must clearly define the process used
to convert raw materials into finished
products. This must include the identification of
inputs, outputs and control points (including
monitoring frequencies) for each process.

Suppliers must monitor all processes to

ensure that they are operating properly
and are under control, for example: use of
monitoring and recording devices, use of
statistical process control tools, and the like.

Calibration Controls
Suppliers must identify critical processing
and testing equipment and design and
implement a calibration program for that
equipment that ensures the accuracy and F. Finished Product
validity of results. The program must include
Management
procedures for monitoring the performance
of processing and testing equipment to
ensure that the equipment continues to  Policy
perform between calibrations. Suppliers must have a program in place to
Weight \ Fill Controls ensure all finished products are handled in
a manner that protects their quality and
Suppliers must have a weight \ fill control
integrity. In addition, suppliers must have
program that complies with all applicable
controls in place to prevent the shipment
regulatory and The Coca-Cola Company
of non-conforming products.
requirements.
The weight \ fill control program must  Definitions
include routine scale calibration and Finished Product: Product, equipment,
corrective action plans. packaging material or ingredient created
by a supplier’s manufacturing process for
use by The Coca-Cola Company.

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products shipped and tanker cleaning must be

available.
Packaging Standard
All finished products must be palletized
unless otherwise specified. Pallets must be
made of suitable material and must be
clean, dry and free from contaminants
(such as insecticides, fungicides, pesticides
or other chemicals). Wood pallets must
be kiln dried.
Finished product packaging standards
must be approved by the customer. Any
variation, including pallet wood types,
must be agreed to and approved by The
Hold: The quarantine, segregation or
Coca-Cola Company.
containment of materials to prevent their
further use or distribution. Nonconforming Products
Nonconforming products must be segregated
Nonconforming Product: Product,
or identified by physical location \ storage,
equipment, packaging material or
markings, authorized stamps, tags, labels,
ingredient that fails to meet specifications
inspection records, inventory systems or
or regulatory requirements.
other suitable means to ensure the
 Requirements prevention of dispatch.

Design of Storage Facilities Procedures for rework, disposal and/or

Facilities used for the handling or storing change of final use of the nonconforming
of materials and components must be products must be in place and records for full
appropriately designed and suitable for traceability must be maintained.
their intended use. (See Housekeeping
and Sanitation Controls on page 9.)
Transportation
Processes must be in place to prevent the G. Food Safety
shipment of non-conforming products.
Suppliers must inspect all transportation
 Policy
vehicles for structural integrity, cleanliness and
suitability prior to loading. Tankers must Suppliers of food-grade materials must
be dedicated for food-grade materials. implement a food safety protection program,
Documentation showing the previous based upon the principles of Hazard

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Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP), to

ensure the wholesomeness and safety of
their products.

TCCQS incorporates the tenets of CODEX

HAACP and other international food safety
standards and programs like ISO 22000.

Suppliers of food product processing or

handling equipment must implement a food
safety protection program based upon the
principles of HACCP or the equivalent that
follows local regulations and requirements
applicable to equipment in contact with
food products.
material that is a natural part of the
product, such as stems, leaves and seeds.
 Definitions
HACCP: Hazard Analysis Critical  Requirements
Control Point is a broadly recognized If applicable, the supplier must have a
preventive and systematic approach for the documented food safety protection
identification, evaluation and control of food program that eliminates or reduces any
safety hazards. food safety hazard to an acceptable level.
Hazard: A biological, chemical or physical An effective food safety protection
agent or factor with the potential to cause program consists of the following:
an adverse health effect that is likely to
occur in the production process if control is 1. Definition of hazards and risks
not exercised.
2. Identification of Critical Control
Food Allergens: Foods or food Points (CCPs)
constituents known to produce allergic
reactions to an at-risk portion of 3. Critical limits for each CCP
the population. 4. Description of the monitoring
Foreign Material: Any material that is procedure for each CCP
not natural to the product, such as metal,
5. Description of corrective actions
wood, glass, plastic, rock, paper or cloth.
when there is a noncompliance
at a CCP
Extraneous Material: Any undesirable

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6. An effective records system • Celery and products thereof

7. A system to routinely verify, or audit, • Eggs and products thereof

the food safety protection program • Milk and products thereof (including
to ensure effectiveness lactose)
The types of hazards the supplier must • Mustard and products thereof
take into consideration include any • Peanuts and products thereof
biological, chemical or physical agent or
• Crustaceans (shellfish) and products
factor with the potential to cause an
thereof
adverse health effect.
• Fish and products thereof
A plan must be in place to eliminate,
reduce, control to a safe level and to • Sesame seeds and products thereof
monitor all hazards. • Tree nuts and products thereof
Suppliers must have controls for the • Wheat and cereals containing gluten
following hazards as part of their food
• Sulfites
safety protection program:
* Additional food allergens may be
• Food allergens
added to this list as their public health
• Foreign and extraneous materials importance becomes recognized.

Food Allergen Control Suppliers must ensure that no

undeclared ingredient will be introduced
Suppliers must have controls in place to
into a product by any means of
prevent the presence of undeclared food
cross contamination.
allergens. The primary potential food
allergens* include, but are not exclusive to, Raw materials, processing aids and packaging
the following: materials used in the production of each
product must be reviewed to determine if
food allergens are present. If present, they
must be declared.

Food allergens present in products that

are in-process must be properly identified.
Controls must be in place to prevent cross
contamination from these products and to
highlight their presence to the workforce.

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Foreignand Extraneous
Material Control
Suppliers must conduct a risk assessment
to identify potential foreign or extraneous
material hazards.
Suppliers must have controls, procedures
and equipment in place to prevent foreign
and extraneous material from entering
their products. Examples include the use
of metal detectors, magnets, screens and
filtration systems.

H. Chemical Residue and

Contamination Control

 Policy I. Traceability
Suppliers must ensure that only legally
permitted and Coca-Cola Company
 Policy
specified chemicals, ingredients and
Suppliers must have a system in place to
additives are present in their finished
identify and trace all products, ingredients,
products.
components, raw materials and goods in
 Requirements progress.
Controls must be implemented and
 Definitions
documented to ensure that only legally
Lot: A supplier-defined quantity of a
permitted chemical agents are used.
product.
Universally accepted agronomic practices,
including integrated pest management Lot Records: A collection of records \ data
strategies, should be used to that identifies the complete history of a lot.
produce quality products. This includes procurement,
manufacturing, testing and
shipping information to
enable traceability.

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J. Scientific and Regulatory

Affairs

 Policy
Suppliers must provide complete and
accurate information to ensure the safety
and legality of The Coca-Cola Company
products.
 Requirements for
Ingredient Suppliers
For new ingredients or upon request,
suppliers must provide complete and
accurate information on forms that will be
Mock Recall or Simulated Product provided by The Coca-Cola Company that
Recovery: A simulated recall of the include the following:
manufactured product or item, including the
• Qualification Packet for New
tracing of all manufacturing records, all shipping
Ingredients (includes, but is not
records and a full reconciliation of quantities
limited to religious cer tifications, food
received, manufactured, stored and shipped.
allergen declarations, cer tificates of
Serial Number: An alphanumeric code legality, cer tificate of origin, customs
assigned by a supplier to identify a single classifications)
product unit, for example: a piece of
• Ingredient Composition Information
equipment, a container, a pallet or the like.
(includes sources of caloric content)
 Requirements
• Vitamin Composition Information
A system must be in place that enables the
for added vitamins
supplier to trace the entire history of a specific
lot. This includes identification of all materials • Nutritional Information sheet
(including any rework added), processing (provided upon request)
conditions, test results and the customers to • Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS)
whom the lot was distributed. with hazardous component
Suppliers must uniquely identify each lot. declarations
(Note: All traceability rules described for a lot • European Union non-GMO statement
are applicable for a serial number.) (required for Europe and the Middle
The traceability process must be validated East; based on EU genetically modified
through a mock recall system to verify organisms directives)
effectiveness.

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Facility Registration
• All United States-based facilities that
produce and/or store food, feed and
ingredients must register with the
Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

• All foreign-based facilities that produce

and/or store food, feed and ingredients
that are imported into the United
States must register with the FDA.

Prior Notice
• Facilities must provide the FDA “prior
notice” of every shipment of food,
feed and ingredient imported into the
United States. This regulation affects local regulatory requirements for
facilities that ship samples to the food contact use in the country in
United States. which the finished product will be
distributed.
 Requirements for Packaging and
• Suppliers must provide complete
Sales Equipment Suppliers
and accurate information for all
Materials include any raw materials and components of materials used for
components used in the manufacturing of contact with product.
packaging and sales equipment.

• Materials used in the manufacturing

of packaging and sales equipment
must meet both corporate and K. Regulatory Actions
local division requirements and Notification
performance criteria established
for packaging materials and sales
equipment.  Policy
• Materials used must meet
Suppliers must notify The Coca-Cola
The Coca-Cola Company policy
Company of any regulatory actions or
on heavy metals.
product retrievals that relate to materials
• Materials that have a potential produced for the Coca-Cola system.
for direct contact with
product must comply with all

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receiving location(s) in writing when any

product or component produced for the
Coca-Cola system is directly or indirectly
the subject of a regulatory action, product
recall or when there is an event that could
create adverse publicity to the Coca-Cola
system. This includes, but is not limited to,
product that does not comply with the
following:

• Standards of quality

• Specifications

• Laws or regulations

• Agreements between the supplier and

The Coca-Cola Company or other
 Definitions entities within the Coca-Cola system

Regulatory Authority: Any duly authorized

agent or employee of any government agency
empowered to enforce laws.
L. Change Control
Religious Authority: Any duly authorized
agent or employee of a religious organization Management Process
that defines requirements for special product
certification (for example, halal, kosher).  Policy
Regulatory Action: The seizure, holding Suppliers must have a documented change
or recall of any product by a regulatory control management process. Suppliers
authority. Also includes any findings resulting in must notify The Coca-Cola Company
prosecution, injunction or a regulatory letter. of any changes that may impact the
Product Recall: Any voluntary or quality, regulatory status, integrity and/or
involuntary recovery of product that has performance of their product.
been released for distribution.
 Requirements
 Requirements
Suppliers must immediately notify The At a minimum, suppliers to The Coca-Cola
Coca-Cola Company representative and Company must document and implement

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a change control management process that

ensures changes that impact product quality
are reviewed, verified and approved before
implementation. Records of the changes
must be maintained and available for review
by The Coca-Cola Company upon request.
The Coca-Cola Company must be notified
when any changes occur to the following:

• Manufacturing process (outside

of normal operating conditions)

• Manufacturing location

• Packaging It is the practice of the Coca-Cola system

to give reasonable notice of intent to
• Product formula \ specifications conduct an audit or inspection.

• Company \ facility ownership  Limitations

An audit or inspection will not extend to
Notification must be made in writing and financial data, sales data (other than data
agreed to by The Coca-Cola Company prior that directly relates to The Coca-Cola
to product shipment. Company), pricing data or personnel data
(other than data related to qualifications
of technical and professional personnel
performing functions per tinent to the
M. Auditor Access audit or governmental requirements with
respect to personnel practices).

 Policy
Suppliers must permit auditor access to
facilities used to manufacture, pack or store
products for the Coca-Cola system. N. Security

 Requirements
 Policy
At any time, representatives of the Suppliers must have a security policy that is
Coca-Cola system must be allowed designed to protect the materials supplied to
to enter and audit/inspect any facility the Coca-Cola system and to minimize risks
manufacturing and/or storing materials for to personnel, trademarks and facilities.
the Coca-Cola system.

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and identifiable to that specific supplier.

The design and strength of the seals used
depend on the specific use of the seal
and the risk inherent with inadvertent
damage or violation of the seal’s integrity.
For example, plants bulk-shipping Company
products should select stronger high-tensile
strength numbered seals for protection.
Intellectual Property: All works,
including literary works, pictorial, graphical
and sculptural works, architectural works,
works of visual arts and any other work
that may be the subject matter of copyright
protections; advertising and marketing
concepts; information; data; formulas; designs;
models; drawings; computer programs,
including all program documentation, related
listings, design specifications and flowcharts;
trade secrets; and any inventions, including
all processes, machines, manufactures and
compositions of matter and any other
invention that may be the subject matter
of patent protection; and all statutory
 Definitions protection obtained or obtainable thereon.
Tamper Evident: A feature of a package
 Requirements
or container that allows consumers, under
ordinary conditions of use, to determine Authorized Suppliers
whether unauthorized opening or Suppliers to the Coca-Cola system must
tampering has occurred. be duly authorized by The Coca-Cola
Tamper-Evident Seal: Seals or sealing Company prior to supplying beverage
mechanisms that are unique to the supplier, products, packaging, ingredients, sales and
and are non-toxic and designed to readily marketing equipment and processing aids.
show any violation or attempted violation Every supplier plant location needs to be
of the integrity of the seal or a change in authorized by every division to which it
status of the package or object on which supplies materials. This authorization must
they are placed; such as containers or include every item that is being supplied
valves. For suppliers, seals should be unique by the plant location. In addition, for packaging

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and sales and marketing equipment suppliers, Tamper Evidence

all materials that have product contact Beverages, packaging, ingredients and
or potential product contact must be formally processing aids must be supplied in suitable
approved by corporate headquarters and tamper-evident packaging authorized by
authorized by the receiving division for The Coca-Cola Company or in
supplier use. Authorization includes appropriately security-sealed bulk
compliance with the requirements and containers \conveyances.
standards listed below.
Information
Suppliers must secure access to
Security Policy
information under their control that
Suppliers must have a written security
pertains to the Coca-Cola system,
policy under the management of a designated
including production, warehousing and
individual who can satisfactorily demonstrate
transportation manifests as well as
compliance to that policy. For products
transactional documentation \ records.
delivered by suppliers to Coca-Cola system
locations in the United States (including Local Regulations \ Requirements
Puerto Rico), suppliers must be members of Suppliers must be able to demonstrate,
the United States Customs and Border to the satisfaction of The Coca‑Cola
Protection’s Customs-Trade Partnership Company, that they are in compliance with
Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) or otherwise all applicable local security laws and regulations
comply at all times with C-TPAT and any local requirements of
security criteria. The Coca‑Cola Company.

Trademark Protection
Suppliers must maintain control of
The Coca-Cola Company trademarked O. Legal Contracts
materials, promotional materials and/or
graphics (“Intellectual Property”) until point of
 Policy
delivery. This requirement includes the control,
Unless otherwise approved by the
use and destruction of scrap and/or obsolete
purchasing entity, purchases of goods and
materials. Suppliers must acknowledge and
services made by the Coca-Cola system
comply with requirements pertaining to
must be governed by a purchase contract.
The Coca-Cola Company’s intellectual
Examples of purchase contracts include,
property ownership rights at all times.
but are not limited to, the following: master

supply agreements, supply agreements and
purchase orders. In some circumstances,

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 S U P P L I E R E X P E C T A T I O N S B R O C H U R E

additional terms and conditions may to comply with applicable laws and
be required to govern our business regulations, suppliers must not be:
relationship with a supplier. For example,
• identified as specially designated
an authorization agreement (sometimes
nationals;
known as a Manufacturer’s Authorization
Agreement, or MAA) between • directly or indirectly owned or
The Coca-Cola Company and suppliers may controlled by the government of any
be required, particularly when the supplier embargoed \ sanctioned countries;
is providing packaging or sales and
• acting on behalf of any embargoed \
marketing equipment with one or more
sanctioned countries;
Company trademarks and/or
The Coca-Cola Company does not have a • involved in business arrangements or
direct supply relationship with the supplier. otherwise engaged in transactions with
embargoed \ sanctioned countries
(unless such arrangements or
transactions are permitted by a current
P. Compliance with Laws and valid license issued by OFAC); or

• sourcing any products or services

 Policy used in the supply of products or
The supply of goods and services to the services to the Coca-Cola system from
Coca-Cola system must comply with embargoed \ sanctioned countries.
applicable laws and regulations.
Suppliers must notify The Coca-Cola
 Definitions Company immediately and in writing
upon the occurrence of any of the
OFAC: The United States Department of
circumstances described above.
Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control.
SDNs: The list of specifically designated
nationals or blocked persons as maintained
by OFAC. Q. Confidentiality
Embargoed \ Sanctioned Countries:
Any country subject to an embargo or  Policy
economic or trade sanctions by the United Suppliers must maintain confidentiality of
States Government. The Coca-Cola Company information.
 Requirements  Requirements
In addition to the requirements to comply At the request of The Coca-Cola Company,
with specific laws identified elsewhere in suppliers must enter into a nondisclosure
this document and the general requirement

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 E V O L U T I O N 3 • T H E C O C A - C O L A Q U A L I T Y S Y S T E M

agreement or other agreement containing  Comment

confidentiality obligations appropriate The Coca-Cola Company expects all of its
for the safeguarding of The Coca-Cola employees to comply with the law and act
Company’s confidential information. ethically in all matters. We have the same
Except as otherwise set forth in such an expectations of our suppliers. Our Code of
agreement, the safeguarding of Business Conduct sets the basic standards
The Coca-Cola Company’s confidential for employee conduct. This Code of
information includes, but is not limited to, Business Conduct for Suppliers establishes
the following: related requirements for our suppliers.
• Restricting the disclosure of confidential Working together, we can achieve great
information only to employees who success by doing the right thing.
have a need to know Our Code of Business Conduct for
• Safeguarding confidential information to Suppliers is available in the following
prevent disclosure to any third party languages:
• Arabic • Japanese
• Returning all confidential information
• English • Por tuguese
(including copies) and erasing all
• French • Russian
electronic information within 30 days
• German • Simplified Chinese
of the receipt of a written request by
• Italian • Spanish
The Coca-Cola Company
*You will find an electronic version of the
• Refraining from publishing or using, Code of Business Conduct for Suppliers at:
without prior written consent, any http://www.thecoca-colacompany.com/
advertising, sales promotion, mailing citizenship/supplier_code.html
or publicity matter that mentions or
implies The Coca-Cola Company or  Requirement
its subsidiaries, parents, affiliates and/or Suppliers must act in a manner that is
authorized bottling partners consistent with the requirements of
The Coca-Cola Company Code of Business
Conduct for Suppliers.

R. Code of Business Conduct

for Suppliers

 Policy
Suppliers must understand and comply with
The Coca-Cola Company Code of Business
Conduct for Suppliers*.

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III. Glossary
Applicable Laws and Regulations: The Finished Product: Product, equipment,
laws and regulations governing the location packaging material or ingredient created
in which products are produced, the by a supplier’s manufacturing process for
laws and regulations of the destination to use by The Coca-Cola Company.
which products may be delivered, and the
laws and regulations of the United States Food Allergens: Foods or food
pertaining to embargo, economic and trade constituents known to produce allergic
sanctions, and specially designated nationals reactions to an at-risk por tion of the
(SDNs) or blocked persons. A list of SDNs population.
and blocked persons is maintained on the
United States Department of Treasury Web Foreign Material: Any material that is
site at: not natural to the product, such as metal,
www.treas.gov/offices/enforcement/ofac/sdn. wood, glass, plastic, rock, paper or cloth.

Authorized Supplier: A company Good Laboratory Practice (GLP):

authorized in writing by The Coca-Cola Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) embodies a
Company, or its designee, to supply a set of principles that provides a framework in
product or a service to the Coca-Cola which laboratory tests are planned, performed,
system (Company, authorized bottling monitored, recorded, reported and archived.
partners and customers authorized by the These tests are undertaken to generate
Company). data to assess the hazards and risks to users,
consumers and third parties (including the
Coca-Cola Trademark Brand environment), of exposure to pharmaceuticals,
Products: Products bearing the agrochemicals, cosmetics, food and feed
Coca-Cola trademark in their name, such additives and contaminants, novel foods
as Coca-Cola, Coca-Cola classic, cherry and biocides. GLP helps assure regulatory
Coke, Diet Coke and Coca-Cola light. authorities that the data submitted is a true
reflection of the results obtained during the
Embargoed \ Sanctioned Countries: testing and can therefore be relied upon when
Any country subject to an embargo or making risk \ safety assessments.
economic or trade sanctions by the United
States Government. Good Manufacturing Practice
(GMP): GMP relates to the manufacturing,
Extraneous Material: Any undesirable processing and storing of food materials to
material that is a natural part of the assure the food materials are safe for human
product, such as stems, leaves and seeds. consumption and have been prepared,
packed and stored under sanitary conditions.
This includes the prevention of any type of

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contamination. Good Manufacturing Practice Lot Records: A collection of records \

requires correctly designed and constructed data that identifies the complete history of a
buildings and equipment, adequate training of lot. This includes procurement, manufacturing,
personnel to produce quality food materials testing and shipping information to enable
and properly maintained plant conditions. traceability.

Mock Recall or Simulated Product

HACCP: Hazard Analysis Critical Control
Recovery: A simulated recall of the
Point is a broadly recognized preventive and
manufactured product or item, including
systematic approach for the identification,
the tracing of all manufacturing records, all
evaluation and control of food safety
shipping records and a full reconciliation of
hazards.
quantities received, manufactured, stored
and shipped.
Hazard: A biological, chemical or physical
agent or factor with the potential to cause Nonconforming Product: Product,
an adverse health effect that is likely to equipment, packaging material or
occur in the production process if control is ingredient that fails to meet specifications
not exercised. or regulatory requirements.

Hold: The quarantine, segregation or OFAC: The United States Department of

containment of materials to prevent their Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control.
further use or distribution.
Product Recall: Any voluntary or
Intellectual Property: All works, involuntary recovery of product that has
including literary works, pictorial, graphical been released for distribution.
and sculptural works, architectural works,
works of visual arts and any other work Purchased Materials \ Services:
that may be the subject matter of copyright Materials or services purchased by suppliers
protections; advertising and marketing for use in the production of their finished
concepts; information; data; formulas; designs; products.
models; drawings; computer programs,
including all program documentation, related Quality Program: An individual
listings, design specifications and flowcharts; component of the overall quality system
trade secrets; and any inventions, including that is designed and implemented to
all processes, machines, manufactures and address a specific set of quality issues, risks,
compositions of matter and any other or concerns. A quality program can include
invention that may be the subject matter a broad collection of procedures, activities,
of patent protection; and all statutory organizational structures and engineering
protection obtained or obtainable thereon. controls.

Lot: A supplier-defined quantity of a

product.

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 S U P P L I E R E X P E C T A T I O N S B R O C H U R E

Quality System: (1) A collection Tamper-Evident Seal: Seals or sealing

of procedures, activities, organizational mechanisms that are unique to the supplier,
structures, and engineering controls and are non-toxic and designed to readily
(both formal and informal) employed to show any violation or attempted violation
respond to applicable requirements by of the integrity of the seal or a change in
directing and regulating quality assurance status of the package or object on which
activities. (2) The organizational structure, they are placed; such as containers or
responsibilities, procedures, processes, and valves. For suppliers, seals should be unique
resources needed for implementing quality and identifiable to that specific supplier.
management. Organizational structure, The design and strength of the seals used
policies, programs and procedures needed depend on the specific use of the seal
to manage product safety and quality. and the risk inherent with inadvertent
damage or violation of the seal’s integrity.
Regulatory Action: The seizure, holding For example, plants bulk-shipping Company
or recall of any product by a regulatory products should select stronger high-tensile
authority. Also includes any findings resulting strength numbered seals for protection.
in prosecution, injunction or a regulatory
letter. The Coca-Cola Company:
The legal entity entitled “The Coca-Cola
Regulatory Authority: Any duly
Company” and its CONSOLIDATED
authorized agent or employee of any
AFFILIATES. It includes all internal
government agency empowered to enforce
BUSINESS UNITS, such as COMPANY
laws.
OPERATING GROUPS, DIVISIONS,
Religious Authority: Any duly REGIONS and CONSOLIDATED
authorized agent or employee of a religious BOTTLING OPERATIONS, and all fur ther
organization that defines requirements for subsets of these units.
special product certification (for example,
halal, kosher). The Coca-Cola System: The Coca-Cola

Qua
Company and its BOTTLING PARTNERS
SDNs: The list of specifically designated
nationals or blocked persons as maintained Trademarked Material: Business-related
by OFAC. articles, including, packaging materials,
labels, seals, and closures, that bear the
Serial Number: An alphanumeric trademarked logos of The Coca-Cola
code assigned by a supplier to identify a Company.
single product unit, for example: a piece of
equipment, a container, a pallet or the like.

Tamper Evident: A feature of a package

or container that allows consumers, under
ordinary conditions of use, to determine
whether unauthorized opening or tampering
has occurred.

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