Ethical
Channel

Hidegal Ethical Channel

The Professional Association of Hygienists of Galicia (HIDEGAL) is committed to strengthening the culture of information or communication as a mechanism to prevent and detect threats to the public interest, in compliance with the regulations on the protection of personal data and Law 2/2023, of February 20, regulating the protection of persons who report regulatory infringements and the fight against corruption, and Directive (EU) 2019/1937 of the European Parliament and of the Council of October 23, 2019, on the protection of persons who report breaches of Union law.

In compliance with this commitment, this Ethical Channel has been enabled, which constitutes the internal information system through which people who interact with HIDEGAL in a work or professional context can report any irregular conduct they become aware of that constitutes:

• Violation of the Code of Ethics of the Professional Association of Dental Hygienists of Galicia or its harassment prevention protocol.
• Acts or conduct with possible criminal significance;
• Serious or very serious administrative infringements;
• Actions or omissions likely to constitute infringements of European Union law under Law 2/2023.

The use of the Ethical Channel is excluded for other purposes, such as matters exclusively related to labor issues that do not generate legal breaches (such as interpersonal conflicts not constituting harassment) or complaints regarding the ordinary management of products supplied by companies operating under the HIDEGAL brand, which must be managed through the channels established for this purpose.

The Professional Association of Dental Hygienists of Galicia guarantees maximum confidentiality and anonymity in the investigation processes of the information received and its treatment with objectivity, impartiality, and transparency. Likewise, the Professional Association of Dental Hygienists of Galicia expressly prohibits acts constituting retaliation, including threats of retaliation and attempts at retaliation against persons who submit a communication, in accordance with the provisions of Law 2/2023.

Please note that the use of the Ethical Channel requires good faith on the part of the users. The information you provide through the Ethical Channel must be truthful and exclusively related to an action or omission within the indicated areas. Therefore, when filling out the forms, you must take into account the following rules:

• Communications must be made in good faith, with truthful information.
• Do not share personal data of third parties unrelated to the reported facts.
• Do not share personal data included within the special categories of data (health, ideology, union membership, religion, sexual orientation, beliefs, or racial or ethnic origin, etc., art. 9 LOPDGDD), unless it is essential to substantiate the complaint.

The informant who, in bad faith, submits a communication that is manifestly unfounded or malicious with the intention of causing unjustified harm, may be subject to the adoption of appropriate measures or, where applicable, to communication to the competent authorities for the initiation of any procedures that may be appropriate.

Communications made in writing through the Channel may be anonymous, if the informant so decides, who may follow up on the communication submitted through the tracking number provided. However, we encourage you to identify yourself when making a communication, as this will help us in the development of a proper investigation. Your identity and the information you provide will be treated with absolute confidentiality. Additionally, we ask you to please provide us with all necessary details to allow us to investigate the matter.

We inform you that communications can also be made externally through external information channels to the competent authorities and, where appropriate, to the institutions, bodies, or organizations of the European Union. These channels may be:

• Independent Authority for the Protection of the Informant (A.A.I.).
• Before the corresponding regional authorities or bodies.
• Public Prosecutors Office.
• European Public Prosecutors Office, in the event that the facts affect the financial interests of the European Union.
• Law Enforcement Agencies.
• Other competent bodies.

Please note that this is not an emergency service. In any imminent danger, contact the competent authorities.

For more information on the general principles of the information management procedure and the use of the channel, you can access the documents “Channel Policy” and “Channel Management Procedure.”

You can also consult below the Code of Ethics of the Professional Association of Dental Hygienists of Galicia.