Moral standards (6)
I believe the answer is:
ethics
'moral standards' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
This is the entire clue.
(Other definitions for ethics that I've seen before include "Code of integrity in business" , "Codes of practice for businessmen" , "Study of moral values and rules" , "Professional codes of behaviour.18 Serious or heartfelt" , "System of morals" .)