ISO 37001:2016 – Anti-Bribery Management System (ABMS)

1. Definition

ISO 37001:2016 specifies the requirements and provides guidance for establishing, implementing, maintaining, reviewing, and improving an Anti-Bribery Management System (ABMS).
Its purpose is to help organizations prevent, detect, and respond to bribery and promote an ethical culture of integrity, transparency, and compliance.

This standard applies to all types of organizations — public, private, or non-profit — regardless of size or sector, and can be integrated with other management systems such as ISO 9001 or ISO 37301.

2. Purpose and Scope

The objectives of ISO 37001 are to:

• Establish effective controls to prevent bribery and corruption.

• Promote compliance with anti-bribery laws (e.g., FCPA, UK Bribery Act).

• Demonstrate an organization’s commitment to ethical business conduct.

• Strengthen governance, reputation, and stakeholder trust.

It covers both bribery by the organization and bribery by its personnel or business partners.

3. Core Requirements

• Anti-bribery policy and objectives

• Leadership commitment and top management responsibility

• Risk assessment and due diligence

• Financial and non-financial controls

• Training and awareness

• Reporting, investigation, and corrective action procedures

• Independent monitoring and continual improvement

4. Benefits

• Demonstrates zero-tolerance commitment toward corruption.

• Reduces legal and reputational risks.

• Builds trust with clients, regulators, and investors.

• Enhances corporate governance and accountability.

• Can serve as evidence of due diligence in legal investigations.

5. Conclusion

ISO 37001:2016 helps organizations implement a structured and proactive framework to combat bribery and promote transparency.
Certification under this standard signifies integrity, compliance, and responsible corporate behavior.