ISO 37001 2016 has just been released. This new standard is titled “Anti-bribery management systems – Requirements with guidance for use.” It is another quality management standard, with requirements for certification. It has been developed with an eye to regulatory requirements as well as ethical considerations. Anti-bribery efforts should be part of the compliance requirements and culture of any organization.
For this reason the 54 page standard reflects international good practice. The committee states that it can be used in “all jurisdictions.” It is appropriate for organizations of any size and in all sectors. It presents a method for implementation based on policies, procedures and controls.
Guidance is provided for setting up a management system with requirements for establishing, implementing, maintaining, reviewing and improving anti-bribery controls. It can be used not only as a stand-alone document, but also in conjunction with other ISO management systems.
The focus of the standard is on bribery alone. Other types of fraud, money laundering and other illegal activities are not addressed. But the committee does note that the scope of the system could be enlarged to include such issues.
Not only are the requirements for such a program clearly defined by the ISO 37001, but Annex A provides thorough guidance on how to use the document. This Annex makes up almost 50% of the publication’s length, with detailed information on all aspects of compliance. Such timely issues as the effect of performance bonuses and conflict of interest on unintential encouragement for the reliance on bribery are addressed. Also discussed are traditional bribery concerns like gifts, hospitality and the like.
Your next question may be, “What are the requirements for registrars for ISO 37001?” The ISO/IEC 17021 series has just been expanded with the release of ISO/IEC TS 17021-9. This new part of the conformity assessment standard series specifically addresses requirements for ISO 37001 certifiers. Both audit and certification bodies and their customers will find this new technical specification to be essential in setting up auditable systems.
Now to get a copy of this new management standard. You can search for and order all ISO and ISO/IEC standards at our Document Center Inc. webstore, www.document-center.com. Searching is easy, results are complete and detailed historical information is readily available. Here are links to the order page for ISO 37001 and to the order page for ISO/IEC TS 17021-9 for your convenience.
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