In 2025, we showed a strong commitment to ethical standards, with clear structures established for the exertion of political influence and for lobbying.
Confirmed incidents of corruption or bribery [G1-4]
We were not convicted of any violations of corruption or bribery law in 2025 (2024: 0). Furthermore, no fines were imposed on us for violations of corruption or bribery law (2024: €0).
Political influence and lobbying activities [G1-5]
We have established clear accountabilities for governing the exertion of political influence and lobbying. In this connection, the head of Global Public Affairs reports to the global head of Public Affairs, Sustainability & Safety, who reports directly to the Chairman of the Board of Management (CEO). Both regularly inform the Board of Management and the Supervisory Board – either individually or jointly, depending on the issue – about material developments that are relevant to us in the area of political lobbying.
We strive to continuously increase transparency not just in our political lobbying work, but also as regards the focus areas of our efforts. For this purpose, we publish our political positions on the most pressing issues associated with our activities. We have also listed our most important political lobbying focuses. These focuses are in line with the findings of our double materiality assessment and our resulting ambitions to reduce negative material impacts and risks and to leverage positive material impacts and opportunities. Central elements of our political lobbying include current geopolitical developments and the issue of tariffs.
The most important focuses of our political lobbying in 2025 were:
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Ensuring that regulatory framework conditions are rigorously based on science (e.g. in crop protection in our core markets)
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Implementing innovation- and investment-friendly framework conditions
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Defending strong patent protection for our innovative products
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Advocating for free trade and the avoidance of foreign investment restrictions (tariffs, geopolitics, etc.)
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Addressing the global food security crisis (e.g. in the context of Russia’s war against Ukraine)
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Advocating for fair and innovation-friendly drug prices
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Seeking broad political and regulatory support in the area of cell and gene therapies
Further information on our political focuses is contained in our publicly available report on the transparency of our political lobbying.
As described in our Bayer Code of Conduct for Responsible Lobbying, we as a company do not donate to political parties, politicians or candidates for political office (2024: €0). According to US law, however, local company employees can support individual candidates for political office by making private donations through political action committees, or PACs, at the federal level. These voluntary donations are made only by employees, not the company. PACs are separate, segregated funds governed by employees and further regulated by the US Federal Election Commission (FEC) and some state governments. Decisions on how these contributions are allocated are made by an independent committee composed of employees. At BAYERPAC, the name of our corresponding committee, criteria are applied that reflect societal challenges, among other factors. For example, the candidates’ positions on issues such as climate change or protection of biodiversity play a key role. BAYERPAC supports candidates from both parties. These donations are subject to strict conditions and compulsory transparency measures. BAYERPAC contributions are regularly reported to the FEC. BAYERPAC does not support presidential candidates. Our employees donated around €366,750 to political candidates at all levels through BAYERPAC in 2025 (2024: around €278,000). In other countries, industry associations of which we are a member (such as the German Chemical Industry Association) sometimes make donations independently in compliance with the respective statutory regulations, particularly laws concerning political parties.
With regard to the EU and its member states, we are entered in the following transparency registers:
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EU Transparency Register, identification number 3523776801-85
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Lobbying Register of the German Bundestag, identification number R002249
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Transparency Register of the Federal Republic of Germany
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Bayer Vital GmbH, identification number R002256
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Bayer CropScience Deutschland GmbH, identification number R002257
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In 2025, we did not appoint members to our administrative, management and supervisory bodies who had held a similar position in public administration (including regulatory authorities) in the previous two years.