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The OECD Anti-Bribery Convention establishes legally binding standards to criminalise bribery of foreign public officials in international business transactions and provides for a host of related measures that make this effective. It is the first and only international anti-corruption instrument focused on the ‘supply side’ of the bribery transaction. The 34 OECD member countries and six non-member countries - Argentina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Colombia, Russia, and South Africa - have adopted this Convention (Entry into force  and OECD Anti-Bribery Convention: Status of Ratification).

Text of the Convention

* Please note these unofficial translations do not yet include the May 2011 updates to the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises section on combating bribery, bribe solicitation and extortion.

Implementing the Convention, country by country

The Convention itself establishes an open-ended, peer-driven monitoring mechanism to ensure the thorough implementation of the international obligations that countries have taken on under the Convention. This monitoring is carried out by the OECD Working Group on Bribery which is composed of members of all State Parties. The country monitoring reports contain recommendations formed from rigorous examinations of each country.

Making Sure That Bribes Don’t Pay

17/12/2012 - This editorial by Mark Pieth and Huguette Labelle marking the 15th anniversary of the signature of the OECD Anti-Bribery Convention, calls on Parties to the OECD's Anti-Bribery Convention to step up enforcement of their anti-bribery laws.

2009 Anti-Bribery Recommendation

The 40 countries have agreed to put in place new measures that will reinforce their efforts to prevent, detect and investigate foreign bribery with the adoption of the OECD Recommendation for Further Combating Bribery of Foreign Public Officials in International Business Transactions.

OECD Working Group on Bribery in International Business Transactions

The OECD Working Group on Bribery in International Business Transactions (Working Group) is responsible for monitoring the implementation and enforcement of the OECD Anti-Bribery Convention, the 2009 Recommendation and related instruments. Made up of representatives from the 40 States Parties to the Convention, the Working Group meets four times per year in Paris.

Related instruments

• 2009 Recommendation on Tax Measures for Further Combating Bribery of Foreign Public Officials in International Business Transactions
• OECD Recommendation on Bribery and Officially Supported Export Credits
• 1996 Recommendation on Anti-Corruption Proposals for Bilateral Aid Procurement
• OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises

Further reading

• Review of the OECD Anti-Bribery Instruments: Public Consultation
• More about the tax treatment of bribes
• The OECD Bribery Awareness Handbook for Tax Examiners