Board of BIO Deutschland Discusses OECD Recommendations on Combating Bribery

One of the topics discussed at the board meeting on 21 July 2010 was the OECD Recommendations for Further Combating Bribery of Foreign Public Officials in International Business Transactions, which the OECD Council passed on 26 November 2009.

Appendix II of the recommendation contains good practice guidance for companies and associations regarding internal controls, ethics and compliance. Its aim is to help companies and it can be applied voluntarily. The guidelines focus on ensuring the prevention and detection of foreign bribery in international business transactions. In this context, the risks of foreign bribery should form part of the risk evaluation and be regularly monitored.

The OECD guidance recommends that foreign bribery be clearly prohibited under corporate policy. In addition, it should be the duty of senior corporate officers to oversee relevant measures in the field of ethics and compliance.

The board of BIO Deutschland suggests the development of and adhesion to compliance programmes based on the OECD guidelines.

The full text of the OECD’s recommendations on combating bribery and the guidelines in Appendix II can be viewed at the following link: http://www.oecd.org/document/13/0,3343,en_2649_34859_39884109_1_1_1_1,00.htm

(A German version of the guidelines is available at the BIO Deutschland office.)