A Global Standard for Compliance and Ethics Programs? Analysis of OECD Anti-Corruption Recommendations Suggests Legal Harmony May Yet Come. Companies Need to Begin Preparing.

MINNEAPOLIS, March 24, 2010 - Companies may not be aware of it yet, but they should implement strict
internal controls as well as institute ethics and compliance programs to help
fight against bribery in international business deals. Beginning in March
2010, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD)
Working Group on Bribery, which is made up of representatives from the 38
nations listed below, will monitor countries' progress in encouraging their
companies to implement the OECD's Good Practice Guidance on Internal
Controls, Ethics and Compliance.

The following 38 countries have agreed to put in place new measures that
will reinforce their efforts to prevent, detect and investigate foreign
bribery.

    30 OECD "Member Countries":
    Australia
    Austria
    Belgium
    Canada
    Czech Republic
    Denmark
    Finland
    France
    Germany
    Greece
    Hungary
    Iceland
    Ireland
    Italy
    Japan
    Korea
    Luxembourg
    Mexico
    The Netherlands
    New Zealand
    Norway
    Poland
    Portugal
    Slovak Republic
    Spain
    Sweden
    Switzerland
    Turkey
    United Kingdom
    United States

    Along with the following 8 Non-Member Ratifiers of the OECD Anti-bribery
     Convention:
    Argentina
    Brazil
    Bulgaria
    Chile
    Estonia
    Israel
    Slovenia
    South Africa

As companies try to decipher what this likely means for them, "The
Society of Corporate Compliance and Ethics is poised to help with the
effective implementation of compliance and ethics programs," said Roy Snell,
the CEO of the SCCE.

To further this mission the SCCE has issued a white paper: "Have the
'Global Sentencing Guidelines' Arrived?" The document reviews the
recommendations of the OECD and offers commentary for compliance and ethics
professionals. The link is available below.

In addition, the SCCE has invited France Chain, Senior Legal Advisor
OECD-Anti-Corruption Division to speak on 20 May 2010 in London, England
about how government implementation of the OECD convention will affect
business. She will be addressing the SCCE conference-Managing Third-Party
Anti-Corruption, Compliance, and Ethics Risk.

"OECD and other organizations are making an effort to help provide a
framework to address the need for fairness and consistency. This is a very
exciting time in our history." said Snell.

This SCCE conference provides business leaders with critical information
on the steps to take to successfully manage third-party risk. The conference
agenda includes:

    - Anti-Corruption-Specific Risk
    - Selecting Third Parties
    - Due Diligence
    - Dawn Raids & Third Parties
    - Code of Conduct & Third Parties
    - Writing a Contract that Reflects Risks
    - Extending Your Reporting Mechanisms
    - Auditing & Monitoring
    - Business Impact of Anti-Corruption Enforcement
    - M&A Activity
    - Data Protection & Privacy
    - Severing a Third-Party Relationship
    - Joint Ventures
    - Social Networks
    - Policy Development Workshop

For more details click here:
www.corporatecompliance.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Home&Template=/TaggedPage/TaggedPageDisplay.cfm&TPLID=87&ContentID=5041

    For more information contact:

    Adam Turteltaub, Vice President of Membership Development
    Society of Corporate Compliance and Ethics
    6500 Barrie Road, Suite 250
    Minneapolis, MN 55435
    +1-818-501-1232 (o)
    E-Mail: adam.turteltaub@corporatecompliance.org
    or call SCCE
    +1-952-988-0141
    Toll Free: 1-888-277-4911 (U.S. and Canada)

Compliance and Ethics-Related Resources:

Link to SCCE white paper Have the "Global Sentencing Guidelines" Arrived?
community.corporatecompliance.org/CORPORATECOMPLIANCE/Test_UAT/Resourc
es/LibraryDocuments/Default.aspx?LibraryKey=f64ec21d-a75f-48ec-bbfd-
e821b0d7fcc1

OECD Anti-Bribery Convention:
www.oecd.org/department/0,3355,en_2649_34859_1_1_1_1_1,00.html

Recommendation of the Council for Further Combating Bribery of Foreign
Public Officials in International Business Transactions
www.oecd.org/dataoecd/11/40/44176910.pdf
www.oecd.org/document/13/0,3343,en_2649_34859_39884109_1_1_1_1,00.html

About the SCCE

The mission of the Society of Corporate Compliance and Ethics, a
non-profit membership organization made up of ethics and compliance
professionals is The Society of Corporate Compliance and Ethics exists to
champion ethical practice and compliance standards in all organizations and
to provide the necessary resources for compliance and ethics professionals
and others who share these principles.

SCCE Web site: www.corporatecompliance.org. E-mail:
helpteam@corporatecompliance.org

Margaret Dragon of the Society of Corporate Compliance and Ethics, +1-781-593-4924