ISO to develop anti-bribery standard

The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) is drafting a new standard on ‘Anti bribery management’. ISO 37001 is in the preparatory stages, and the project was instigated following the development of BS 10500 by UK-based standards developer, BSI.

A draft version of ISO 37001 is expected to be available for public comment early next year, with the final standard due for publication in 2016. Among the industry groups contributing to its development is European International Contractors (EIC), a trade association representing European contractors working outside their national borders.

The development of the standard has been welcomed by EIC, and the organisation is keen that it goes on to form pre-qualification requirements for parties bidding on certain international work. “That would make it a more level playing field in some countries,” said EIC treasurer and a senior advisor to Swedish contractor NCC, Per Nielsen.

According to Mr Nielsen, the standard is being developed as a ‘Requirement standard’, meaning it would be auditable. Once complete it could be applied to public, private and not-for-profit organisations.

In light of the development from ISO, the EIC and the European Construction Industry Federation (FIEC) have re-activated their joint working group on ethics.