Anti-Bribery Management System to ISO 37001
Fighting corruption is high on the agenda of many governments and legislation is getting tougher.
However, as organisations trade globally across cultural divides and in increasingly competitive markets it can be difficult to navigate through corporate entertainment and gifts.
ISO 37001 is the International standard for an Anti-Bribery Management System (previously BS 10500) which can help manage the risk of bribery and corruption within your organisation, demonstrate compliance with the law and show your social & ethical values.
In the 2025 revision, ISO 37001 has a stronger emphasis on corporate culture, embedding strong ethics in to your operations and managing potential conflicts of interest.
Anti-Bribery Legislation in the UK
In the UK, the Bribery Act 2010 was enacted to provide general legislation around bribery including:
“giving someone a financial or other advantage to encourage that person to perform their functions or activities improperly or to reward that person for having already done so.”
Following the act, many companies moved to clarify their policies on corporate entertainment and receiving gifts
Penalties
For individuals falling foul of the Bribery Act the penalties can be severe, with up to 10 years in prison and unlimited fines.
Whereas a commercial organisation failing to prevent bribery can also receive unlimited fines.
In addition, under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002, a confiscation order can also be made.
Annex SL and Integrated Systems
ISO 37001 is a management system standard that follows the Annex SL common clause structure. This means that it aligns well with other popular standards such as ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and ISO 27001.
Integrating Anti-Bribery measures in to your existing corporate governance and certification approach makes perfect sense.
Anti-Bribery Policy
ISO 37001 will help you to develop and communicate policies that make it clear to all interested parties that bribery will not be tolerated.
An over-all anti-bribery policy is a good place to start, while ISO 37001 will support this through training, awareness and auditing.
Advantages of ISO 37001
- Reduce Bribery Risks.
- Comply with Legislation, including the Bribery Act 2010.
- Embed a culture of ethical practice within the organisation.
- Manage Conflict of Interest.
- Communicate expectations throughout the Supply Chain.
- Social Responsibility & Ethics.
- Achieve Certification to demonstrate your commitment.
