ISO 37001:2016 - ANTI-CORRUPTION MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
The Anti-Bribery Management System is an international standard developed with the aim of supporting organizations in adopting a management system designed to address and prevent possible cases of corruption and to promote an ethical corporate culture.
The UNI ISO 37001 standard, applicable to any public or private organization regardless of sector, size, or geographic location, establishes requirements to plan, implement, and maintain an effective management and control system for corruption risks through an approach structured in the following phases:
- analysis and assessment of corruption risks,
- planning and implementation of anti-corruption measures and controls,
- monitoring of their application,
- periodic review of the effectiveness and adequacy of the prevention system, in order to ensure continuous improvement.
ISO 37001 can become a powerful tool for organizations to combat corruption and promotes the growth of a culture of transparency and integrity, as well as the development of effective measures to prevent and address corrupt practices.
The ISO 37001 Anti-Bribery Management System can also help companies better understand and analyze their internal processes, particularly administrative ones.
The ISO 37001 standard therefore serves as support both for organizations and companies that must comply with legal anti-corruption requirements and, more generally, for all companies aiming to monitor over time the main risks and costs associated with corruption.
An Anti-Bribery Management System is built on a risk-based approach: it is preventive, meaning it aims to avoid the occurrence of corruption cases as much as possible.
KEY POINTS OF ISO 37001
ISO 37001 specifies the anti-bribery measures and controls that an organization can adopt to monitor its business activities in order to prevent corruption.
These include:
- A policy for corruption prevention, procedures and controls;
- Communication of this policy and related program to all interested and/or associated parties;
- Leadership, commitment, and accountability;
- Senior-level oversight procedures;
- Training on corruption prevention;
- Risk assessment;
- Due diligence on projects and business partners;
- Reporting, monitoring, investigation, and review by the governance body;
- Requirement for associates to sign an anti-corruption commitment;
- Implementation of financial controls to reduce corruption risks;
- Corrective actions and continuous improvement.
The standard is a flexible tool that provides a systemic approach to preventing and combating corruption, based on the Plan–Do–Check–Act methodology typical of management systems.
It is structured according to the High-Level Structure, can be easily integrated with other management systems, and its objectives can be included in continuous improvement plans. Most importantly, compliance with the standard can be subject to third-party certification.
What are the main benefits of applying the standard?
Choosing to certify an organization according to UNI ISO 37001 increases the effectiveness of tools to combat corruption, resulting in economic benefits.
The adoption of an ISO 37001-compliant management system should improve the effectiveness of anti-corruption measures, integrating well with corporate systems including the Organizational Model 231.
ISO 37001 can therefore support organizations required to comply with anti-corruption legislation, but also represents an opportunity for all companies interested in managing and reducing their “corruption risk” level.
Main benefits:
- Economic: increased effectiveness of anti-corruption tools, with resulting financial benefits;
- Legal compliance: implementing ISO 37001 allows organizations to go beyond minimum legal requirements and adopt a systematic approach to preventing and combating corruption;
- Ethics and innovation: adoption of an internationally recognized best-practice standard in Italy and worldwide;
- Competitiveness: a distinguishing factor in the market, including in the eyes of stakeholders; may be an additional requirement in tenders and public procurement;
- Governance: demonstration of having an adequate system for managing corruption-related risks;
- Investors: response to expectations of high standards of ethics, legality, and business sustainability;
- Mitigation of sanctioning risk: certification by an independent body provides concrete evidence of the absence of serious organizational deficiencies, helping to avoid severe precautionary measures and increasing the chances of exemption from liability;
- Legal rating: certification facilitates obtaining the “legal rating” from the Italian Competition Authority (AGCM);
- Reputation: certification of the Anti-Bribery Management System enhances the organization’s profile and serves as an effective communication tool for corporate policies, confirming commitment to contributing positively to the market.