A Global Standard for Compliance and Ethics Programs? Analysis of OECD Anti-Corruption Recommendations Suggests Legal Harmony May Yet Come. Companies Need to Begin Preparing.

MINNEAPOLIS, March 24 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Companies may not be aware if it yet, but they should implement tight internal controls as well as institute ethics and compliance programs to help fight against bribery in international business deals. Beginning in March 2010, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) Working Group on Bribery, which is made up of representatives from the 38 nations listed below, will monitor countries' progress in encouraging their companies to implement the OECD's Good Practice Guidance on Internal Controls, Ethics and Compliance, according to 3 March 2010 OEDC press release.

The following 38 countries have agreed to put in place new measures that will reinforce their efforts to prevent, detect and investigate foreign bribery.

As companies try to decipher what this likely means for them, "The Society of Corporate Compliance and Ethics is poised to help with the effective implementation of compliance and ethics programs," said Roy Snell, the CEO of the SCCE.  

To further this mission the SCCE has issued a white paper: "Have the 'Global Sentencing Guidelines' Arrived?" The document reviews the recommendations of the OECD and offers commentary for compliance and ethics professionals. The link is available below.  

In addition, the SCCE has invited France Chain, Senior Legal Advisor OECD-Anti-Corruption Division to speak on 20 May 2010 in London, England about how government implementation of the OECD convention will affect business. She will be addressing the SCCE conference—Managing Third-Party Anti-Corruption, Compliance, and Ethics Risk.

"OECD and other organizations are making an effort to help provide a framework to address the need for fairness and consistency. This is a very exciting time in our history." said Snell.

This SCCE conference provides business leaders with critical information on the steps to take to successfully manage third-party risk. The conference agenda includes:

• Anti-Corruption-Specific Risk
• Selecting Third Parties
• Due Diligence
• Dawn Raids & Third Parties
• Code of Conduct & Third Parties
• Writing a Contract that Reflects Risks
• Extending Your Reporting Mechanisms
• Auditing & Monitoring
• Business Impact of Anti-Corruption Enforcement
• M&A Activity
• Data Protection & Privacy
• Severing a Third-Party Relationship
• Joint Ventures
• Social Networks
• Policy Development Workshop

For more details click here:

http://www.corporatecompliance.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Home&Template=/TaggedPage/TaggedPageDisplay.cfm&TPLID=87&ContentID=5041

Compliance and Ethics-Related Resources:

Link to SCCE white paper Have the "Global Sentencing Guidelines" Arrived?

http://community.corporatecompliance.org/CORPORATECOMPLIANCE/Test_UAT/Resources/LibraryDocuments/Default.aspx?LibraryKey=f64ec21d-a75f-48ec-bbfd-e821b0d7fcc1

OECD Anti-Bribery Convention: http://www.oecd.org/department/0,3355,en_2649_34859_1_1_1_1_1,00.html

Recommendation of the Council for Further Combating Bribery of Foreign Public Officials in International Business Transactions

http://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/11/40/44176910.pdf

http://www.oecd.org/document/13/0,3343,en_2649_34859_39884109_1_1_1_1,00.html

About the SCCE

The mission of the Society of Corporate Compliance and Ethics,  a non-profit membership organization made up of ethics and compliance professionals is The Society of Corporate Compliance and Ethics exists to champion ethical practice and compliance standards in all organizations and to provide the necessary resources for compliance and ethics professionals and others who share these principles.

SCCE Web site: http://www.corporatecompliance.org. E-mail: [email protected]

SOURCE Society of Corporate Compliance and Ethics