Grievance Resolution Procedure

I. Purpose.
Bayer CropScience LP (“Bayer”) is committed to the timely resolution of grievances relating to the Bayer Carbon Program. This Grievance Resolution Procedure (the “Procedure”) outlines Bayer’s process for addressing and resolving concerns submitted by stakeholders during the program’s duration.

II. Scope of Application.
If a stakeholder is a party to an agreement with Bayer and such agreement includes a dispute resolution process, such process will govern any claims, actions or disputes between Bayer and such stakeholder. For clarity, disputes arising under the Bayer Carbon-Smart Practices Master Agreement are outside the scope of this Procedure.

III. Complainant Process.
Grievance Submission and Required Information:
Grievances must be submitted in writing, via email, at feedback.carbon@bayer.com. The following information should be included when a grievance is submitted:
1.The full name of the stakeholder submitting the grievance (if not submitted anonymously);
2.The full name(s) of all organization(s) or entities involved, where relevant;
3.Contact information (including, postal address and email address) of the stakeholder submitting the grievance (if not submitted anonymously); and
4.Details of the grievance (e.g., what are the key issues, timing of event(s), etc.)

Bayer reserves the right to reject grievances which (i) do not contain the information requested above, or (ii) are not within the scope of this Procedure (see Scope of Application above for further detail).

Anonymous Grievance Submissions:
Grievances may be submitted on an anonymous basis. If a grievance is submitted on an anonymous basis, it may impair Bayer’s ability to understand or address such grievance (e.g., if further detail on the concern at issue is necessary to reach resolution, Bayer would be prevented from contacting the applicable stakeholder for additional information or documentation).

Grievance Intake:
All grievances received in accordance with this Procedure will be systematically documented and tracked. Within 30 days after receipt of the grievance, Bayer will email the applicable stakeholder to confirm receipt provided that such stakeholder submitted their contact information (see Grievance Submission and Required Information above for further detail). Bayer will make reasonable efforts to resolve the grievance within 30 days after the date Bayer sends such receipt confirmation.

Grievance Resolution Process:
Upon receipt of a grievance, a Bayer representative will address it using the structured three-stage resolution process below to ensure a timely and effective response.

1.Bayer will attempt to amicably resolve the grievance in a manner that is culturally appropriate.

Specifically, upon receiving a grievance, a Bayer representative will engage with the stakeholder to understand the issue and reach resolution, provided that such engagement may be impeded if the stakeholder did not provide their contact information as part of their grievance submission (see Anonymous Grievance Submissions above for further detail).

If resolved pursuant to this initial stage of the grievance resolution process, the grievance will be documented, within Bayer’s internal systems, as closed with mutual agreement.

2.Any grievances that are not resolved by amicable negotiations shall be referred to mediation by a neutral third party selected by Bayer.

3.Grievances that are not resolved through mediation may be referred to competent courts in the relevant jurisdiction, without prejudice to a party’s ability to submit the grievance to a competent supranational adjudicatory body, if any.

Grievance Disclosure:
Grievances that are not resolved through amicable negotiations and are referred to mediation or the competent courts of in the relevant jurisdiction will be summarized and made publicly available on the ForGround by Bayer website below this Grievance Resolution Procedure. Bayer will handle any personal information received from stakeholders pursuant to this Procedure in accordance with (i) Bayer’s Privacy Statement (available at www.cropscience.bayer.us/privacy-statement), (ii) the terms of any separate agreement subsequently entered into between the applicable stakeholder submitting the grievance and Bayer, and (iii) as otherwise required by data protection requirements (i.e., the applicable laws, rules, regulations and regulatory guidance related to the receipt, access to, use, handling, storage and other processing of personal information).


IV. Legal Disclaimer.
This Procedure is not intended to substitute or override the legal rights of any party within its local jurisdiction to use judicial mechanisms, where available and appropriate.

Last updated: December 2024