Anti-bribery management systems — Requirements with guidance for use Euro Veritas, UK (www.euroveritas.com) accreditated from BAR-UK Procedure No. EVL/ABMS/C-A/7164/C-2
ISO 37001:2016 is an International standard from ISO which specifies requirements and provides guidance for establishing, implementing, maintaining, reviewing and improving an anti-bribery management system. The system can be either a stand-alone one or it can be integrated into an overall management system. ISO 37001:2016 addresses the following in relation to the organization's activities:
• bribery in the public, private and not-for-profit sectors;
• bribery by the organization;
• bribery by the organization's personnel acting on the organization's behalf or for its benefit;
• bribery by the organization's business associates acting on the organization's behalf or for its benefit;
• bribery of the organization;
• bribery of the organization's personnel in relation to the organization's activities;
• bribery of the organization's business associates in relation to the organization's activities;
• direct and indirect bribery (e.g. a bribe offered or accepted through or by a third party).
ISO 37001:2016 is applicable only to bribery of any form. It sets out requirements and provides guidance for a management system designed to help an organization to prevent, detect and respond to bribery and comply with anti-bribery laws and voluntary commitments applicable to its activities.
ISO 37001:2016 does not specifically address fraud, cartels and other anti-trust/competition offences, money-laundering or other activities related to corrupt practices, although an organization can choose to extend the scope of the management system to include such activities.
The requirements of ISO 37001:2016 are generic and are intended to be applicable to all organizations (or parts of an organization), regardless of type, size and nature of activity, and whether in the public, private or not-for-profit sectors. The extent of application of these requirements depends on the factors specified in 4.1, 4.2 and 4.5.
Transparency and trust are the building blocks of any organization’s credibility. Nothing undermines effective institutions and equitable business more than bribery, which is why there’s ISO 37001.
It’s the International Standard that allows organizations of all types to prevent, detect and address bribery by adopting an anti-bribery policy, appointing a person- the Management Representative to oversee anti-bribery compliance, training, risk assessments and due diligence on projects and business associates, implementing financial and commercial controls, and instituting reporting and investigation procedures.
ISO 37001:2016 addresses one of the world’s most destructive and challenging issues head-on, and demonstrates a committed approach to stamping out corruption.
What does the Standard require?
For Certification from Euro Veritas, UK (www.euroveritas.com) accreditated from BAR-UK the organization must maintain documentation and implement a series of measures and controls in a reasonable and proportionate manner to help prevent, detect, and deal with bribery, including:
• Anti-bribery policy
• Management leadership, commitment and responsibility
• Personnel controls and training
• Risk assessments
• Due diligence on projects and business associates
• Financial, commercial and contractual controls
• Reporting, monitoring, investigation and review
• Corrective action and continual improvement
How will the Standard ISO 37001:2016 benefit my Organization?
The Standard benefits an organization by providing:
• Minimum requirements and supporting guidance for implementing or benchmarking an anti-bribery management system
• Assurance to management, investors, employees, customers, and other stakeholders that an organization is taking reasonable steps to prevent bribery
• Evidence in the event of an investigation that an organization has taken reasonable steps to prevent bribery.
What is an anti-bribery management system?
An anti-bribery management system is designed to introduce an anti-bribery culture, identify and assess risks and opportunities and implement operational controls within an organization and implement appropriate controls, which will in turn increase the chance of detecting bribery and reduce its incidence in the first place.
ISO 37001, gives the requirements and guidance for establishing, implementing, maintaining and improving an anti-bribery management system. The system can be independent of, or integrated into, an overall management system. It covers bribery in the public, private and not-for-profit sectors, including bribery by and against an organization or its staff, and bribes paid or received through or by a third party. The bribery can take place anywhere, be of any value and can involve financial or non-financial advantages or benefits.
What benefits will it bring to my business or organization?
ISO 37001 is designed to help your organization implement an anti-bribery management system or enhance the controls you currently have. It requires implementing a series of measures such as adopting an anti-bribery policy, appointing someone to oversee compliance with that policy, vetting and training employees, undertaking risk assessments on projects and business associates, implementing financial and commercial controls, and instituting reporting and investigation procedures. Implementing an anti-bribery management system requires leadership and input from top management, and the policy and programme must be communicated to all staff and external parties such as contractors, suppliers and joint venture partners. In this way, it helps to reduce the risk of bribery occurring and can demonstrate to your management, employees, personnel, owners, funders, customers and other business associates that you have put in place internationally recognized good-practice anti-bribery controls. It can also provide evidence in the event of a criminal investigation that you have taken reasonable steps to prevent bribery.
• The standard provides minimum requirements and supporting guidance for implementing an anti-bribery management system.
• Certification to ISO 37001 from Euro Veritas, UK (www.euroveritas.com) accreditated from BAR-UK provides assurance to management, investors, business associates, personnel, and other stakeholders that an organization has taken appropriate measures to prevent bribery.
• Implementing the measures of the standard reduce the risk of malpractice
• Implementation and certification can be used as evidence of due diligence in case of disputes
• The ISO 37001:2016 standard follows the same structure as ISO 9001:2015, ISO 14001:2015 and ISO 45001:2018 and others from ISO and can easily be integrated into existing management systems
• During the certification audit, from Euro Veritas, UK (www.euroveritas.com) accreditated from BAR-UK, our auditors detect potential for improvement and make recommendations to increase the effectiveness of your anti-bribery system
• Reduce bribery risks by implementing financial controls in early stages
• Perform continuous improvement of anti-bribery practices
• Gain competitive advantage
• Ensure that business associates and customers are devoted to positive anti-bribery processes
• Attract new business
• Prevent, detect and address bribery risks
• Increase international recognition
• Promote trust and confidence
• Reduce cost
• Prevent conflict of interest
• Promote an anti-bribery culture
• Take action against bribery for more ethical business.
• Identify and manage bribery by establishing risk-based anti-bribery management systems.
• Improve organisational efficiency and effectiveness in managing risks associated with bribery.
• Increase awareness of bribery’s impacts on the organisation
• Highlights the ability to detect fraud.
• Enhance an organisation’s reputation and image by assuring legal compliance.
• Demonstrate a benchmark of good practice in anti-bribery management systems.
• Demonstrate an organisation’s commitment to anti-bribery practices.
• Provide confidence and trust to potential partners.
Is ISO 37001 certification right for me?
The implementation of ISO 37001 involves the development and implementation of the following:
• Anti-bribery policy
• Anti-bribery compliance and control person
• Risk & opportunities’ Assessments
• Procedures, Processes, Operational Controls, Instructions, Formats and records
• Due diligence
• Control mechanisms
• Reporting and investigation procedures
Euro Veritas, UK (www.euroveritas.com) accreditated from BAR-UK has certification scheme for ISO 37001:2016 as per Procedure No. EVL/ABMS/C-A/7164/C-2. If you are interested in getting this ISO 37001 certification from Euro Veritas, UK (www.euroveritas.com) accreditated from BAR-UK and joining the list of companies, who have already been certified to this prestigious standard- please contact us. This is a great opportunity to be an early adopter, demonstrate that your organization is a leader in this field and reap the rewards of effective anti-bribery management.
Who can apply for an ISO 37001 Anti-Bribery Management System Certification?
• Private organisations: the company at large, a business unit or a subsidiary
• Public organisations: administrations, services, political parties
• Government Organizations
• Not-for-profit organisations: NGOs, charities, foundations, associations
• Companies- Large, Corporates or SMEs.
What does the certification process actually cover?
Euro Veritas, UK (www.euroveritas.com) accreditated from BAR-UK generally covers the following during their scheduled audits:
• Assesses an organization’s anti-bribery management system: how it is designed, implemented, controlled and improved
• Documentation, Risk Assessment, Opportunities’ Assessments
• It does not address: fraud, cartels, money laundering
• Programme design and implementation is audited:
• at the headquarters
• in a sample of locations where the operations are conducted
How to apply ISO 37001 Anti-Bribery Management? From Euro Veritas, UK (www.euroveritas.com) accreditated from BAR-UK
1. Submission of Enquiry- Application Form
2. Issuance of Quotation
3. Stage 1 Audit
4. Stage 2 Audit
5. Recommendation & Approval
6. Issuance of Certificate
7. Surveillance and Recertification Audit
Is there a report and what does it cover?
• A detailed report of the organization’s anti-bribery management system is made by the Euro Veritas auditor
• A list of findings identifying non-conformities, opportunities for improvement, best practices, and observations…
• Euro Veritas, UK (www.euroveritas.com) accreditated from BAR-UK shares the following with the Organization, after the conduct of the audit:
• Audit Summary Report- This cites the Recommendation and Status.
• Findings Sheets- OFI/Minor NC/Major NC etc.
Do we get a certificate?
• The Certification Committee from Euro Veritas, UK (www.euroveritas.com) accreditated from BAR-UK verifies that certification requirements are fulfilled and awards the certificate for 3 years with annual surveillance audits.
• Similar happens during annual surveillance audits.
Why choose this ISO 37001:2016 certification from Euro Veritas, UK (www.euroveritas.com) accreditated from BAR-UK?
• Build trust with stakeholders
• Establish credibility in the market- Market Rapport
• Gain a competitive advantage
• Stabilize partner ecosystems
• Increase operational efficiencies
• Reduce the risk of prosecution for non-compliance
