OECD Anti-Bribery Convention

The OECD Anti-Bribery Convention (officially OECD Convention on Combating Bribery of Foreign Public Officials in International Business Transactions) is a convention of the OECD aimed at reducing corruption in developing countries by encouraging sanctions against bribery in international business transactions carried out by companies based in the Convention member countries. Its goal is to create a truly level playing field in today's international business environment.

The convention was signed on 17 December 1997 and came into force on 15 February 1999. Countries that have signed the Convention are required to put in place legislation that criminalises the act of bribing a foreign public official.

The OECD has no authority to implement the convention, but instead monitors implementation by participating countries. Countries are responsible for implementing laws and regulations that conform to the convention and therefore provide for enforcement. The OECD performs its monitoring function in a two-phased examination process. Phase I consists of a review of legislation implementing the conventions in the member country with the goal of evaluating the adequacy of the laws. Phase 2 assesses the effectiveness with which the legislation is applied.

Member states

As of April 1, 2009 (2009 -04-01)^[update], 38 countries have ratified the convention:

Argentina  Australia  Austria  Belgium  Brazil  Bulgaria  Canada  Chile  Czech Republic  Denmark

Estonia  Finland  France  Germany  Greece  Hungary  Iceland  Ireland  Israel  Italy

Japan  Luxembourg  Mexico  Netherlands  New Zealand  Norway  Poland  Portugal  Slovakia  Slovenia

South Africa  Spain  South Korea  Sweden  Switzerland  Turkey  United Kingdom  United States

The Convention is open to accession by any country which is a member of the OECD or has become a full participant in the OECD Working Group on Bribery in International Business Transactions. Countries that have participated as observers in the Working Group include Russia, China, Peru, Indonesia, Malaysia and Colombia. Russia became a permanent member of the Working Group in June 2011, which will eventually lead to the signing of the Convention.

External links

• OECD Anti-Bribery Convention