Learn more about SAPIN II, the French anti-corruption law, addressing transparency, anti-corruption and economic modernisation.
No country in the modern world is totally free from corruption. To eradicate this scourge, more and more countries are choosing to strenghen their anti-corruption legislation.
SAPIN II, the French anti-corruption law, addressing transparency, anti-corruption and economic modernisation, became effective on 1 June 2017.
The legislation stipulates that companies must establish an anti-corruption programme to identify and mitigate risks. SAPIN II makes it illegal for offering a donation, gift or reward to obtain an undue advantage.
How do companies comply? Companies subject to SAPIN II must:
- Evaluate their corruption risks through risk mapping and due diligence third parties;
- Educate employees and third parties most exposed to corruption risks through adequate code of conduct; and
- Establish sanctions controls, including clear whistle-blower mechanisms, a disciplinary regime, accounting controls, internal controls and monitoring systems.
SAPIN II legislation can hold companies liable for failure to implement and efficient anti-corruption programme, even when no corrupt activity has taken place.
