Anti-corruption clause

Définition

An anti-corruption clause commits each party to refrain from bribery and to comply with applicable anti-corruption laws, often referencing international frameworks such as the UK Bribery Act and the US Foreign Corrupt Practices Act alongside local criminal-law prohibitions. The Netherlands has no single dedicated statute; bribery is addressed through corruption offences in the Criminal Code (Wetboek van Strafrecht) and corporate compliance standards. Breach typically gives an immediate right to terminate.

Exemple

The anti-corruption clause lets the principal terminate immediately if the agent is found to have paid a bribe to win business.

Pourquoi c'est un risque pour l'entreprise

A contracting party can face criminal prosecution, regulatory sanctions, and reputational damage if a third party acting on its behalf pays a bribe, even if the party itself was unaware. The UK Bribery Act in particular applies to conduct anywhere in the world by associated persons. Without a contractual anti-corruption clause backed by monitoring, a business has limited defences if an agent or supplier is found to have engaged in corrupt practices.

Comment le gérer

• Include an anti-corruption clause in every contract with agents, distributors, and third-party intermediaries.
• Back the clause with an audit right so you can verify compliance, especially in high-risk markets or sectors.
• Train counterparties and staff on what the clause requires and document that training.
• Ensure the clause gives an immediate termination right on proven breach, without a cure period.

Références juridiques

• Sr art. 177 Dutch Criminal Code: bribery offences

Sauf mention contraire, les références renvoient au droit néerlandais (Burgerlijk Wetboek, le Code civil néerlandais) ; les instruments de l'UE tels que le RGPD s'appliquent dans toute l'UE. Il s'agit d'informations générales, pas de conseils juridiques. D'autres juridictions traitent ces concepts différemment. Vérifiez le texte en vigueur et votre situation avec un avocat qualifié.