ISO 37001:2016 Certification
ANTI-BRIBERY MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS
What is Corruption and how can it be countered?
Corruption is an unfortunately widespread phenomenon that raises moral, political, and economic concerns. It threatens development, distorts competition, erodes justice, undermines human rights, increases business costs, introduces elements of uncertainty in commercial transactions, raises the cost of goods and services, and decreases the quality of products and services. This last aspect can lead to loss of human lives and property damage, destroys trust in institutions, and interferes with the fair and efficient functioning of markets.
National laws and international agreements (OECD, UN) aim to counter the phenomenon but unfortunately prove insufficient: organizations must therefore proactively contribute to the fight against corruption. A proactive approach requires an anti-corruption policy supported by a Management System that helps organizations avoid the risks and costs of their own involvement.
What is the ISO 37001:2016 standard?
The recently published ISO 37001 standard - Anti-Bribery Management Systems, serves as an important safeguard in preventing and combating corruption. The ISO 37001 standard applies exclusively to corruption. It defines requirements and provides guidelines to help an organization:
- Prevent, detect, and respond to corruption phenomena
- Comply with anti-corruption legislation and any other voluntary commitments applicable to its activities.
The requirements of ISO 37001 are general and applicable to any organization (or part of it), regardless of type, size, and nature of activity. Bureau Veritas offers certification services in accordance with ISO 37001 - Anti-Bribery Management Systems.
How to obtain the Certification according to the ISO 37001:2016 guideline?
The main phases of the certification process proposed by Bureau Veritas include:
- Definition of the certification scope
- Preliminary verification (upon request)
Gap analysis and assessment of the organization's current compliance with regulatory requirements - Two-stage certification verification (initial & main)
Verification of the system's compliance with the reference standard and issuance of the certificate - Surveillance visits to assess continuous improvement
- Renewal of certification after 3 years following a complete verification.
At the end of each visit, the Company is provided with a clear and complete report, which allows for continuous improvement of Quality Management performance. Other fundamental elements required by the standard are: analysis of internal and external context, appointment of an anti-corruption officer, and continuous monitoring, with the performance of periodic internal audits and final management review.
FAQ - Frequently asked questions about the ISO 37001:2016 standard
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What are the main benefits of ISO 37001 certification?
An organization's choice to certify to ISO 37001 increases the effectiveness of tools to combat corruption, with consequent economic benefits. Through the implementation of ISO 37001, it is also possible to go beyond compliance with minimum legal requirements and adopt a systemic approach aimed at preventing and combating corruption.
ISO 37001 provides both support for Entities and Companies that must comply with legislative obligations in the field of anti-corruption and, more generally, an opportunity for all companies to become concretely capable of controlling, over time, the major risks and costs related to the phenomenon of corruption. -
Does ISO 37001 integrate with other Management System standards?
Yes. ISO 37001 standard has been drafted following a High Level Structure (HLS), consistent in its approach and terminology with the main Management System standards.