Basic Approach

NICHINO Group positions respect for human rights as one of the most important management issues for the sustainable promotion of business. We respect the internationally recognized human rights of all people and conduct business activities in accordance with the United Nations’ “Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights” and “Ten Principles of the Global Compact.” We will fulfill our responsibility to respect the human rights of all stakeholders involved in the Group’s business activities.

Human Rights Management Promotion System

Within the Group, the President and Representative Director is responsible for overseeing human rights management, and the Division Manager of the Administration Division is responsible for implementing and promoting it. In addition, we have established a Human Rights Subcommittee as an advisory body to the Sustainability Committee (Chairperson: General Manager of the Human Resources Department).

NICHINO Group Human Rights Policy

In FY2023, the Group expanded upon its existing Basic Human Rights Policy by formulating the “NICHINO Group Human Rights Policy,” which complies with the United Nations’ “Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.” The policy was approved by the Board of Directors of Nihon Nohyaku Co., Ltd. on April 23, 2024, after consultations with external experts and the Nihon Nohyaku Labor Union.

• Please refer to the Nichino Group Human Rights Policy for more details.
• Please refer to the Sustainability Basic Policy for more details.

Human Rights Due Diligence

NICHINO Group is committed to human rights due diligence according to the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and aims to promote Human Rights management in its business activities.

1) Consideration of the negative impacts in business and human rights (risk of human rights violations)
 The identification of potential risks of human rights violations at Nihon Nohyaku was carried as part of previous risk management activities based on risks assessment at each work site, including Group companies in Japan and overseas. In addition, we have identified 18 risks of human rights violations based on a comprehensive and objective review of various government published material related to the “National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights”,  (*1) workplace discussions on human rights risks held with all our employees, discussions with the trade union and interviews with external experts (Table1).
*1： National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights (Ministry of Foreign Affairs 2020); Guidelines on Respecting Human Rights in Responsible Supply Chains (Inter-Ministerial Committee on Policy Promotion for the Implementation of Japan’s National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights 2022). 

Table 1 Nihon Nohyaku’s list of Human Rights violations risks 

＊ Classification of affected rights holders
Employees: all employees working on NICHINO Group's sites. Including contractors, outsourced workers, etc. 
Business stakeholders: entire value chain (suppliers, customers, business partners)
Other: local residents, consumers and the general public

 Based on the criteria of the Government Guidelines (*2), the importance of the human rights violation risks identified was analysed based on their severity and likelihood of occurrence in Nihon Nohyaku. 
 As a result of the severity analysis, the response to the five high severity risks has been verified with the lead divisions (Table 2). Other risks of human rights violations have also been properly addressed as business risks and significant progress has been confirmed. Should any human rights violations occur due to NICHINO Group's business activities, appropriate measures will be taken to rectify and remedy the situation through consultations with relevant stakeholders. 

Table 2 Nihon Nohyaku’s Response to the risk of rights infringements


 NICHINO Group intends to analyse the importance of the 18 risks of human rights violations identified and check the implementation of countermeasures in Group companies, to prevent human rights violations throughout NICHINO Group and in each company's specific operations in the future.
*2： “Reference Material on Practical Approaches for Business Enterprises to Respect Human Rights in Responsible Supply Chains” (METI 2023). 

2) Education ＆ Training
The Group conducts awareness-raising activities for officers and employees to ensure that they correctly understand and recognize respect for human rights. Specifically, in FY2023, we conducted human rights training and workplace discussions amongst all employees, encouraged employees to attend external seminars related to human rights management, conducted compliance training twice a year, distributed a monthly e-mail newsletter on compliance to all employees, and other initiatives.

3)Internal environment and institutional structures
The Group creates a work environment that is free from long working hours, discrimination, and prejudice, which are all factors that pose the risk of human rights violation and operates the personnel system fairly.

4) Ensuring Human Rights in the Supply Chain
NICHINO Group promotes a comprehensive approach to human rights throughout the supply chain from a sustainable procurement perspective. 

• For more details: Supply Chain Management

Ensuring human rights throughout the supply chain

We comprehensively promote human rights initiatives throughout the supply chain from the perspective of sustainable procurement.

Relief Mechanisms

Nihon Nohyaku, its domestic Group companies and major overseas Group companies have established whistleblowing systems for all executive officers and employees. In addition, since fiscal year 2025, an external reporting and consultation service has been established for victims of human rights risks related to the business activities of Nihon Nohyaku and NICHINO Group, so that companies and organisations involved in the supply chain and their employees who have suffered damage can receive appropriate redress. 

• Nihon Nohyaku Human Rights Relief: Contact form

Dialogue with Stakeholders

In implementing this policy, the Group engages in dialogue and consultation with stakeholders. At the labor-management council meeting held in February 2024, we held discussions with labor unions, one of our most important stakeholders, to formulate a human rights policy. In addition, at the labor-management council meeting held in August 2024, we discussed human rights management (progress in due diligence).

Information Disclosure

The Group conducts appropriate information disclosure regarding our human rights management initiatives on the sustainability section of our website and in the Sustainability Report.