ISO 37001:2025 Anti-bribery management systems

What is ISO 37001?

ISO 37001 is a standard dedicated to establishing, implementing, maintaining, and improving an anti-bribery management system. This standard offers requirements and guidance for setting up systems designed to help organizations prevent, detect, and respond to bribery, as well as comply with anti-bribery laws and voluntary commitments applicable to their activities. It covers various forms of bribery (direct and indirect) within public, private, and not-for-profit sectors.

Why is ISO 37001 important?

Bribery is a pervasive issue that undermines societal, economic, and political structures, leading to injustice, distorted competition, and increased operational costs among other severe implications. ISO 37001 is critical as it provides organizations with a systematic approach to combat bribery. This approach is not only about legal compliance but also about fostering a culture of integrity, transparency, and trust within organizations. By implementing an anti-bribery management system, organizations can mitigate risks and damage associated with bribery, enhance their reputation, and ensure stable and fair market operations.

Benefits

  •  Reduces risks of bribery and its associated costs
  •  Enhances compliance with international anti-bribery laws
  •  Builds stakeholder confidence and trust in business operations
  •  Strengthens organizational reputation and integrity

 

 

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ISO 37001 – Frequently Asked Questions

Official answers from ISO – updated December 2025

Who should use ISO 37001? +
ISO 37001 is applicable to any organization, regardless of size or sector, including entities in public, private, and not-for-profit sectors that wish to proactively combat bribery. It is particularly relevant for:

• Organizations operating in high-risk industries (e.g., construction, oil & gas, mining, pharmaceuticals)
• Companies with international operations or supply chains
• Public sector entities and government contractors
• Organizations subject to anti-bribery laws (e.g., UK Bribery Act, US FCPA, French Sapin II)
• Any entity seeking to demonstrate a robust anti-bribery management system to stakeholders, regulators, or partners
How does ISO 37001 integrate with other management systems? +
ISO 37001 follows the High-Level Structure (HLS) used by other ISO management system standards, making integration straightforward and efficient.

It can be easily combined with:
• ISO 9001 (quality management)
• ISO 14001 (environmental management)
• ISO 45001 (occupational health & safety)
• ISO/IEC 27001 (information security)
• ISO 37000 (governance of organizations)

Organizations often implement an integrated management system (IMS) that covers multiple disciplines, reducing duplication of effort and improving overall governance and compliance.
What are the key components of an anti-bribery management system according to ISO 37001? +
The key components of an effective anti-bribery management system (ABMS) in ISO 37001 include:

• Leadership and commitment (top management responsibility)
• Anti-bribery policy and objectives
• Risk assessment and due diligence (bribery risk identification and mitigation)
• Controls (financial, procurement, gifts/hospitality, hiring, etc.)
• Training and awareness programs
• Reporting, investigation, and whistleblowing mechanisms
• Internal and external audits, monitoring, and continual improvement

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