A fundamental aspect of our management philosophy is that each operating unit of Novo Nordisk must comply with all relevant legislation and regulations, as well as corporate policies. We use the following indicators to survey our environmental compliance status: breaches of regulatory limit values, accidental releases and complaints from neighbours.

Regulatory limit values
In the production approvals applying to our facilities, a number of conditions are imposed by the environmental authorities. In these conditions fixed limit values apply to e.g. emissions to air and waste water. We document that Novo Nordisk complies with these requirements via extensive monitoring programmes and random testing.

1998 target: No repeated breaches of regulatory limit values in 1998.

This target has not been achieved. In 1998, 14 different regulatory limits were breached, of which 10 were breached twice or several times. This represents an increase in relation to 1997 which is not acceptable. We will therefore strengthen our efforts to limit and prevent repetitions. In 1998, a total of 76 breaches of regulatory limit values were recorded at Novo Nordisk worldwide. The site reports describe the repeated breaches of regulatory limit values, accidental releases and complaints from neighbours.

New 1999 target: No repeated breaches of regulatory limit values in 1999.

Accidental releases
Accidental releases comprise spills and leakages of genetically modified microorganisms (GMOs), liquid waste, oil and chemicals to the environment outside the factory. In each case we have initiated remediation procedures so that recovery or neutralization is carried out wherever possible.

1998 target: No accidental releases of genetically modified microorganisms in 1998.

There were no accidental releases of genetically modified microorganisms in 1998. The target has been achieved.

New 1999 target: No accidental releases of genetically modified microorganisms in 1999.

Complaints from neighbours
Although complaints from neighbours are not covered explicitly by environmental regulations, we nonetheless consider good relations with our neighbours to be very important and therefore regard complaints as an important indicator of environmental performance. We received a total of 35 complaints in 1998, which is almost half the number in 1997. Virtually all complaints concern noise and odour nuisances. It is our policy to implement abatement measures wherever technically and financially feasible.

Legal actions and fines
Novo Nordisk has not been involved in legal actions, or incurred fines relating to environmental claims in 1998.