ISO 37001:2016

ISO 37001 Certification

Anti-Bribery Management System

Introduction

ISO 37001:2016 is the international standard specifying requirements and providing guidance for establishing, implementing, maintaining, reviewing and improving an Anti-Bribery Management System (ABMS).

What is ISO 37001?

ISO 37001 helps organisations prevent, detect and address bribery, whether by the organisation or on its behalf. It applies to public, private and non-profit sectors globally.

Benefits of ISO 37001 Certification

  • Demonstrates reasonable and proportionate anti-bribery controls
  • Strengthens corporate governance and reduces legal and compliance risk
  • Builds trust and credibility with regulators, clients, and investors
  • Supports due-diligence requirements in international tenders and partnerships
  • Reinforces an ethical, transparent corporate culture across the organisation

Who Needs ISO 37001 Certification?

  • Large enterprises and multinational corporations
  • Government contractors and companies bidding for public tenders
  • Organisations operating in high-risk geographies or sectors
  • Financial institutions and public utilities

ISO 37001 Requirements

  • Anti-bribery policy and objectives (Clause 5.2)
  • Appointment of anti-bribery compliance function (Clause 5.3)
  • Conducting bribery risk assessments (Clause 6.1.2)
  • Implementing anti-bribery training and awareness (Clause 7.3)
  • Due-diligence procedures on projects, associates, and personnel (Clause 8.2)
  • Financial and non-financial controls (Clauses 8.3/8.4)
  • Gifts, hospitality, and whistleblowing procedures (Clauses 8.7/8.9)

ISO 37001 Certification Process

01

Initial Consultation

Discuss scope, objectives and current state.

02

Gap Analysis

Assess current practices against the standard’s requirements.

03

Documentation Development

Build the policies, procedures and records the standard calls for.

04

Implementation & Internal Audit

Roll out the system and test it with an internal audit.

05

Management Review

Leadership reviews performance and readiness for certification.

06

Certification Audit

An accredited certification body audits conformance.

07

Certification Awarded

The certification body issues the accredited certificate.

08

Surveillance Audits

Annual audits maintain certification status.

Documents Required

  • Anti-Bribery Policy and compliance manual
  • Bribery risk assessment register
  • Due-diligence reports on business associates
  • Financial control procedures
  • Whistleblowing policy and investigation logs
  • Gifts and hospitality register

ISO 37001 Certification Cost

We don’t publish a fixed price, because cost depends on organisation size, number of locations, scope, process complexity, audit duration, consulting requirements and certification body fees. Request a scoped estimate and we’ll walk you through each factor.

Certification Timeline

Timelines depend on organisational readiness, scope and the complexity of your processes. A well-prepared, single-site organisation typically moves faster than a multi-site or highly regulated one — we’ll give you a realistic timeline after the initial gap analysis.

ISO 37001 vs FCPA

The Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) is a US law that penalises bribery of foreign officials. ISO 37001 is an international management standard. Implementing ISO 37001 helps establish the internal controls that demonstrate compliance with FCPA and UK Bribery Act requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is ISO 37001?

The international standard for Anti-Bribery Management Systems (ABMS), verifying that an organisation has proportional controls to prevent bribery.

Does ISO 37001 guarantee zero bribery?

No standard can guarantee bribery won't occur, but ISO 37001 proves that your organisation has implemented reasonable, proactive controls to prevent and detect it.

What is a Whistleblowing Procedure?

A secure, confidential channel through which employees or associates can report suspected bribery or non-conformance without fear of retaliation.

Ready to start your ISO 37001 certification?

Book a free initial consultation with an OMCS ISO consultant.

Talk to an ISO 37001 Consultant