Introduction
Modern slavery is a crime. At VCT Europe (hereafter also referred to as “we”, “our”), we are committed to ensuring that no instances of slavery, worker exploitation or human trafficking take place within our business or supply chains.
We understand businesses have a vital role to play in tackling modern slavery and human trafficking. As such, we continuously aim to improve our practices and remain vigilant to any abuses.
Organisation's Structure
Viña Concha y Toro S.A. is the one of the world’s largest vineyard owners, employing over 4,000 people in winemaking, bottling and business operations in Chile, Argentina, USA and subsidiary offices around the world including the UK. The trading company in the UK is VCT Europe, and has as its business the marketing, sale and distribution of wines produced by Viña Concha y Toro S.A., our ultimate parent company.
Prevention of Slavery and Human Trafficking in VCT Europe’s Supply Chain
Supplier Adherence to Our Values and Ethics
VCT Europe is solely supplied by Viña Concha y Toro S.A, whom has in place a robust system to ensure supplier adherence to their values and ethics.
Viña Concha y Toro S.A. seeks to develop strong partnerships with its suppliers through joint work, encouraging them to carry out their productive and commercial activities in accordance with their Code of Ethics and Conduct and the Code of Conduct for Suppliers, which establish guidelines on compliance with regulations, occupational health and safety, non-discrimination, freedom of association, child and forced labour, and transparency, among others.
These Codes specify the minimum ethical and behavioural principles and values that must guide the actions of suppliers, contractors, and subcontractors of Viña Concha y Toro S.A. In all matters, the Code of Conduct for Suppliers specifies that Suppliers must act with the utmost good faith in relation to the provision of goods and services.
The Code of Conduct for Suppliers reserves the right to verify that the Supplier complies with the Code, and furthermore reserves the right to ask the Supplier to take necessary corrective actions to ensure compliance and even terminate the respective contract with any Supplier that fails to comply with the Code. Self-certification questionnaires are completed by suppliers and scored by Viña Concha y Toro S.A. annually.
Monitoring and Audits
Viña Concha y Toro S.A. and VCT Europe are committed to ensure that their suppliers comply with the Corporate Ethical Standards outlined above. Since 2017 Viña Concha y Toro S.A. has conducted a thorough survey among its key suppliers (organised into the categories of agricultural suppliers, ecological suppliers, bottling suppliers, transport suppliers, grape suppliers and service suppliers., which were subsequently categorised according to the potential risk of adverse impact on people, the environment and the Company’s economic development.
Through a review of the implications of the Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights of the United Nations (Ruggie Framework), Viña Concha y Toro S.A. identified the main potential impacts on human rights relating to their operations and businesses, in order to guarantee that its activities do not violate human rights. This exercise was conducted by an external organisation in order to obtain greater understanding of the risks internally and within the supply chain.
Any impact detected is addressed through Viña Concha y Toro S.A.’s Ethical Management System. This system aims to improve the handling of such issues as well as the detection and prevention of practices that could negatively impact the human rights of those who make up Viña Concha y Toro S.A.’s value chain, with particular emphasis on migrant and seasonal workers. The internal Audit department is responsible for regular internal audits of all facilities following an internal schedule.
In terms of sustainability, Viña Concha y Toro S.A. identified risks in the supply chain through internal audits, which verified compliance with the Corporate Ethics Standard. Further audits have been conducted and gaps identified are being addressed.
Since 2017, Viña Concha y Toro S.A. have conducted annual evaluations of their key suppliers to measure their social and economic impact, including their risk of human rights violations. In addition, they have implemented systems to identify the areas of their supply chain most “at risk” of human rights violations and conduct thorough yearly surveys of self-declaration to ensure their legal, social and environmental compliance.
Supply Chains
Viña Concha y Toro S.A.’s supply chains include 5 key areas:
All supply chain partners are required to comply with all applicable laws, statutes, regulations and codes.
Viña Concha y Toro S.A. has defined, as one of its essential aims for the development of its activities, that in each stage of the products’ preparation, distribution and sale, every one of its suppliers, contractors and subcontractors complies with existing rules and regulations of the jurisdiction in which they operate. Also, Viña Concha y Toro S.A. requires its suppliers, employees, agents and subcontractors, to meet and fully commit to their ethical values and integrity in the pursuit of excellence and transparency.
Viña Concha y Toro S.A. has summarised the minimum ethical and behavioural principles and values that must guide the actions of suppliers, contractors and subcontractors of Viña Concha y Toro S.A. and VCT Europe in its Code of Conduct for Suppliers. In all matters, Suppliers will act with the utmost good faith in relation to the provision of goods and services.
Prevention of Slavery and Human Trafficking in VCT Europe
We are committed to ensuring that there is no modern slavery or human trafficking in our supply chains or in any part of our business.
Code of Business Conduct and Ethics
Viña Concha y Toro S.A. has had a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics in place for many years, which outlines the ethical principles, values and minimum standards of conduct with which directors, executives and personnel should adhere. This Code is reviewed and updated regularly and applies to all subsidiaries, and as such we too hold all personnel to this high standard.
Ethical Trade Initiative Base Code
Compliance with the nine points of the Ethical Trade Initiate Base Code (ETI base code) is a requirement of all subsidiaries within the Viña Concha y Toro group, with a high level of awareness of this code at each site. Temporary staff are provided by reputable agencies which are audited to ensure compliance with local regulations and the provision of the ETI base code. The company aims to conduct audits of suppliers/partners to ensure compliance and take corrective action where necessary.
Whistleblowing
We have in place a comprehensive whistleblowing policy which applies to all employees, officers, consultants, contractors, casual workers and agency workers. This is to ensure that should any of our personnel feel concerned about an area of our business, they can raise their concern in accordance with the policy and feel reassured that their disclosure will be taken seriously and investigated appropriately.
In 2015, Viña Concha y Toro S.A. introduced an “Anonymous Complaints Procedure”, allowing anonymous concerns to be raised about practices or situations that might be a violation to the Code of Business Conduct and Ethics. This Channel is accessible through the portal on the website of Vina Concha y Toro S.A.
Due Diligence Processes for Slavery and Human Trafficking
Since 2020, auditing processes are carried out by the Audit Department of the company using the Ethical Corporate Standard of the company.
The Ethical Corporate Standard includes 10 principles that are audited annually, and their content is subject to periodic updates and revisions. Some of the principles are Compliance with Legislation, Management System, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Prohibition of Child Labor and Protection of Young Workers, Prohibition of Forced Labor, Fair Wages and Working Time, Freedom of Association, Hygienic and Safe Working Conditions, among others.
There are systems in place to:
• Mitigate the risk of slavery and human trafficking occurring in supply chains.
• Protect whistle blowers
Every year our Key Suppliers receive a questionnaire through which they confirm their adherence to the protection of human rights and principles of integrity and transparency.
Training
To ensure a high level of understanding of the risks of modern slavery and human trafficking in our supply chains and our Business, we have communicated this statement to all employees and have rolled out comprehensive training for relevant employees within VCT Europe. We conduct training each year and will continue to review further training requirements in the future.
This statement is made pursuant to section 54(1) of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 and constitutes our slavery and human trafficking statement for the financial year ending 31st December 2024.
VCT Europe
Date: 28th March 2025