1. What is the OECD?

The OECD (Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development), established in 1961, brings together 32 industrialized countries committed to democracy and free market economics. In May 2010, Estonia, Israel and Slovakia were invited to become full members, which will increase the number of member countries to 34.

Its organs are the Council, the Executive Committee and the Thematic Committees. Its main objectives are to support sustainable economic development, promote employment, increase standards of living, maintain financial stability, help other countries with their economic development and contribute to the growth of world trade. The OECD provides a forum where member countries can find solutions to shared problems by co-coordinating domestic and international policies. It also undertakes surveys about economic and social trends on themes such as commerce, environment, technology and corruption.

2. What is the OECD Anti-Bribery Convention?

The OECD Convention on Combating Bribery of Foreign Public Officials in International Business Transactions (the Anti-Bribery Convention of the OECD) lays out the obligations of governments, businesses and civil society in the member States to adopt and implement mechanisms to prevent, detect and sanction the offence committed by any natural or legal person, which gives or promises undue pecuniary or other advantage, whether directly or through intermediaries, to a foreign public official in international business transactions, in order that the official acts or refrains from acting in relation to the performance of official duties. This objective is defined in article 1 of the convention.

Before adopting the OECD Anti-Bribery Convention, the OECD member States adopted a non binding instrument in May 1997, the Revised Recommendation of the Council on Combating Bribery in International Business Transactions. In May 2009, the OECD Council adopted its Recommendation on Tax Measures for Further Combating Bribery of Foreign Public Officials in International Business Transactions and in November of the same year, it adopted its Recommendation for Further Combating Bribery of Foreign Public Officials in International Business Transactions. These two instruments jointly with the Convention constitute the current anti-corruption device of the OECD.

The convention was adopted in 1997 by the OECD Negotiating Conference and at the beginning of 2010 it had been ratified by 38 States (the OECD members plus South Africa, Argentina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Estonia, Israel and Slovenia). The convention was ratified by Mexico on April 22nd 1999 and came into force in Mexico on July 26th 1999.

Related documents:
•  Text of the Convention and related documents
•  Ratifications

3. OECD Anti-Bribery Convention chronology