At the BNQ, the certification process for anti-bribery management systems adheres strictly to the applicable accreditation requirements.
The certification cycle is a three-year cycle during which maintenance audits are performed every twelve months. The process begins with an initial application for certification submitted by email using the application form (see this web page under “Download the document required for certification”).
Once the service contract has been signed by both the BNQ and the client, and once the documentation pertaining to the client’s anti-bribery management system has been sent to the BNQ, the name of the auditor responsible for the audit is communicated to the client.
Before the initial onsite certification audit, a preliminary assessment of the client’s level of preparedness is carried out, notably through the review of the documentation received. The conclusions of this preliminary assessment are then communicated to the client in the form of a written report. This report establishes an initial judgment of the conformity of the client’s system to the documentation requirements of the standard and to the level of understanding and implementation of the requirements of the standard by the client. If the assessment is favourable, the lead auditor prepares an audit plan and sends it to the client.
The initial certification audit can now take place: the auditor collects all relevant information pertaining to the requirements of the standard and verifies them. This information is collected by means of interviews, the observation of activities and the work environment, and the consultation of documents on site. The client is kept informed of the auditor’s observations as the audit progresses; these will be included in the written report summarizing the auditor’s findings.
If discrepancies are observed during the audit, they may be subject to corrective action requests (CARs ) by the BNQ, which may be major or minor depending on the significance of the impact of the discrepancies on achieving the objectives of the standard. The CAR must be closed (in other words resolved) within 30 days following the audit.
The decision concerning the certification of the anti-bribery management system is based on the recommendation of the lead auditor, along with the revision of the file by the BNQ, in order to ensure that all certification conditions have been met.
Following a favourable decision by the BNQ, a certificate of conformity is sent to the client, who agrees to undergo a first maintenance audit within twelve months from the first day of the initial certification audit.
