Applies to: All AOCS Members
Approved by the AOCS Governing Board, February 2026

Purpose

The American Oil Chemists’ Society (AOCS) is a global professional scientific society dedicated to advancing science, technology, and application of oils, fats, lipids, proteins, surfactants, and related materials for the benefit of society.

This Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct establishes the ethical principles and professional standards expected of all AOCS members. It is intended to:

• Promote scientific integrity and professional excellence
• Foster a respectful, inclusive, and collaborative professional community
• Protect public trust in science and in AOCS
• Provide clear expectations for ethical and professional behavior

Core Ethical Principles

1. Integrity and Honesty
Members shall conduct scientific and professional activities with honesty, accuracy, and transparency. Fabrication, falsification, plagiarism, or misrepresentation of data, credentials, or findings is inconsistent with membership in AOCS.

2. Professional Competence and Responsibility
Members shall maintain professional competence, recognize the limits of their expertise, and act responsibly in the application of scientific knowledge.

3. Respect, Inclusion, and Belonging
Members shall treat others with dignity and respect, fostering an environment that welcomes diverse perspectives and backgrounds. Discrimination, harassment, intimidation, or exclusionary behavior is inconsistent with AOCS values.

4. Scientific and Scholarly Responsibility
Members shall give proper credit to the contributions of others, respect intellectual property, maintain confidentiality where required, and participate in peer review and scholarly activities fairly and objectively.

5. Legal and Ethical Compliance
Members shall comply with applicable laws, regulations, and ethical standards governing their professional activities.

6. Professional Reputation and Conduct
Members shall avoid conduct that would reasonably be viewed as undermining the integrity, credibility, or reputation of the profession or of AOCS.

Application and Acknowledgement
Membership in AOCS constitutes acknowledgement of and agreement to abide by this Code. This Code applies to professional conduct broadly, including but not limited to research, publication, meetings, communications, and representation of AOCS.