ISO 37001: Anti-bribery management system

The ISO 37001: Anti-bribery management system – requirements with guidance for use is a method for implementing an anti-bribery culture in the organization. Its implementation will boost the chances of identifying bribery and reduce the number of instances of corruption.

The standard requires the organization that implement it to establish a risk assessment system on the acceptance or payment of bribes in it and its various units, projects, and so forth. It provides the organization with guidelines to identify sign of corruption – "red flags – facts, events, circumstances that may indicate illegal or unethical business conduct.

The standard requires the organization to set policy, demonstrate leadership and commitment by management, guide managers and employees, conduct risk assessments and due diligence, establish commercial and financial controls, establish way to test and deal with non-compliance with the appropriate procedures, and take corrective action where necessary.

Regrettably, bribery is widespread. Accepting and paying bribes undermines the company's foundations. Bribery is immoral, antisocial, and harms the economy and clean governance. The goods and services that a corrupt organization are inferior and may even jeopardize human life.

The 2015 OECD report on corruption in Israel states, ""Israel is not sufficiently proactive in detecting and investigating foreign bribery." Among other things, the OECD recommends that Israel raise awareness of bribery from outside, especially among companies in industries with a high risk of bribery. The report concludes that, since the previous report, anti-bribery awareness has increased in Israel and the government has initiated corporate anti-corruption compliance plans.

Israeli has anti-bribery laws and programs, but organizations must assume responsibility for thorough and genuine implementation of the defenses in its environment and among its employees. The International Standardization Organization (ISO wrote the ISO 37001: Anti-bribery management system to assist in the establishment and implementation of an in-house anti-bribery system,

The structure of ISO 37001 is the same as all management standards and is therefore suitable for integration with the ISO's other approved standards.

Defense exporters are further required to submit an anti-bribery plan to the Ministry of Defense, pursuant to provisions in agreements that Israel has signed with the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). The ministry's Defense Export Controls Agency (DECA) supervises the plan's implementation.

The road to certification

To initiate the process, we recommend purchasing the standard at the Standards Institution of Israel Information Center

Certification follows the successful implementation an organization's in-house quality management system pursuant to the requirements of the standard. To start this process, it is recommended to purchase the standard at the Standards Institution of Israel Information Center, study the requirements, and participate in appropriate training. It is also possible to consult with the quality management experts and undergo an audit by Standards Institution of Israel to check for shortcomings.

The process ought to be seen as an opportunity for improvement via the organization team which will receive management commitment and involvement. At the end of the process, independent Standards Institution of Israel auditors will perform an audit that confirms that the organization's management system is compatible to the specifications of the standard.