ISO 37001:2016 - Anti Bribery Management

ISO 37001:2016 Certification

ISO 37001 Certification is a Type A management system standard (MSS) that specifies the requirements and provides guidelines for the establishment, implementation, monitoring, maintenance, and continuous improvement of an ABMS. It was published in 2016 as a Type A management system standard (MSS).

An anti-bribery management system (ABMS) based on ISO 37001 is designed to assist enterprises in efficiently preventing, detecting, and responding to bribery. The guideline does not encompass other types of corruption, such as fraud. The standard’s standards are broad and apply to all companies, regardless of their type, size, or industry (public, private, or not-for-profit). Additionally, ISO 37001 Certification can be used to combat bribery committed by or on behalf of the organisation, as well as direct and indirect bribery.

ISO 37001 Certification adheres to the High-Level Structure (HLS) and uses the same terminology as other ISO management system standards. This means that an ABMS can be implemented as a standalone management system, as part of a larger compliance management system based on ISO 37301 Certification, or as part of a larger management system based on ISO 37002, ISO 9001, or ISO 45001.

Why Choose Finecert for ISO 37001 Certification?

Finecert certifications are internationally recognised and serve to demonstrate your professional talents. IAS has accredited our ISO 37001 Lead Auditor and ISO 37001 Lead Implementer credentials. The IAS Accreditation Mark adds value to the certificate and allows you to take advantage of IAS’s international recognition. We provide a simplified certification process, minimum documentation, End-to-end responsibility and One-stop solution for consulting, training, audit and certification

It guarantees management, investors, business associates, employees, and other stakeholders that the company is actively pursuing internationally recognised and acknowledged anti-bribery and anti-corruption procedures. Bribery is also protected by ISO 37001:2016 certification, which safeguards the organisation, its assets, shareholders, and directors.

Process of getting ISO 37001 Certification

The certification cycle can begin once your organisation has submitted questionnaire information and passed the approval and contract stages.

  • Audit Confirmation: At least three months before the organization’s first audit, an audit plan will be prepared with your organisation and validated by the Certification’s Body Assessment Team.
  • Pre- Assessment Audit: A pre-assessment audit can be conducted by the organisation to identify any potential gaps between its current management system and the standard criteria. This audit is optional, but it assists the organisation in determining its readiness for stage 1 and 2 assessments by identifying any serious nonconformities that have not been rectified.

Stage 1 Audit: Examine the audit’s findings, including:

  • Observations in general
  • Non-compliance (major or minor, see below)
  • Minor deviations: These are not considered serious. Before moving on to Stage 2, the organisation must complete an internal Corrective Action Plan (CAP). At Stage 1, CAP is not required to be sent to the Assessment Team.

Major non-conformities: These are the most serious non-conformities. Within ten days of receiving the audit report, the organisation must submit a CAP, with all activities intended to be performed by Stage 2. The CAP should be forwarded to the Evaluation Team. During the Stage 2 Audit, the key non-conformities raised during Stage 1 will be re-evaluated.

Stage 2 Audit: This is an on-site audit that occurs after the organisation has completed Stage 1 and addressed any serious non-conformities discovered during that stage. Stage 2 verifies that the management system of the organisation is completely compliant with the standard. The efficiency of the management system’s implementation is being assessed.

Outcome: The following will be included in the audit report:

  • Any nice observations
  • Suggestions for improvement, as well as any results that could lead to potential nonconformities.
  • Non-compliance (Major or Minor)
  • Certification Recommendation

Benefits of ISO 37001 Certification

Using an ABMS based on ISO 37001 Certification to demonstrate an organization’s commitment to successfully prevent, detect, and respond to bribery might be a positive strategic decision. Organizations desiring an effective ABMS must demonstrate their commitment to bribery prevention by implementing policies, processes, and controls that help to reduce bribery risks. However, because ISO 37001’s standards are generic, businesses will have significant leeway in developing an ABMS that best matches their needs.

The following are some of the advantages that organisations would gain by installing an ABMS based on ISO 37001 Certification:

  • Ability to detect, prevent, and respond to bribery by or within the organisation has improved.
  • The ABMS can be certified by going through a conformity examination with an authorised conformity assessment authority.
  • Establishment of procedures to ensure that prospective employees and business partners are properly vetted.
  • Possibility to make a difference in the global fight against bribery
  • Opportunity to develop, improve, or modify an organization’s culture
  • If a bribery case arises, improved capacity to respond, minimise, and deal with the repercussions
  • The existence of an internal process to resolve bribery issues in certain countries can lessen penalties in cases of wrongdoing.

Industries or organizations that can comply with ISO 37001

Bribery and corruption continue to be a serious problem in many nations throughout the world, with the World Bank estimating that over $1 trillion in bribes is paid each year. It has evolved into a modern-day source of insecurity, inequality, and poverty, particularly in developing nations.

As a result of civic and legal pressures, bribery is becoming a high-priority public concern. Despite this, several businesses are still involved in corruption scandals each year.