The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) is drafting a new standard on anti-bribery management.
ISO 37001 is in the preparatory stages.
A draft version could be available for public comment early next year, with the final standard due for publication in 2016.
The project was jump started following the development of BS 10500 by UK-based standards developer BSI, International Construction reported Monday.
The European International Contractors (EIC), a trade association representing European contractors working outside their national borders, are among those helping draft the new standard.
The EIC wants the ethics and compliance standard to be part of the pre-qualification requirements for parties bidding on certain international work, International Construction said.
“That would make it a more level playing field in some countries,” according to EIC treasurer and a senior advisor to Swedish contractor NCC, Per Nielsen.
Nielsen told International Construction that ISO 37001 is being developed as a “Requirement standard,” meaning it would be auditable.
It could be applied to public, private, and not-for-profit organizations, he said.
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Richard L. Cassin is the publisher and editor of the FCPA Blog. He can be contacted here.
2 Comments
As someone who spent many years helping financial companies comply with ISO9001 and now works for a global background check firm helping ensure clients comply with the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and the UK Bribery Act, I think having an international standard which companies can be externally audited and certified to is an excellent idea.
Can this ISO be extended to other areas of public work? This is an important advancement in offering to the taxpayers transparency on the bidding process, sometimes an obscure process that produces corruption within the governments.
Congratulations on a great idea ISO.
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