Anti-corruption at SERV
For each insurance application, SERV checks your anti-corruption declaration and other information for signs of corruption and bribery.
As an applicant, you are primarily responsible for ensuring that anti-corruption provisions are complied with. To help combat corruption on an ongoing basis and ensure that your insurance applications are successful, it is important that you know the relevant laws and carry out your own checks. This way, you will be able to inform SERV in a transparent manner about any incidents or circumstances that you become aware of.
Anti-corruption declaration
SERV follows the OECD Council Recommendation on Bribery and Officially Supported Export Credits. It therefore requests an anti-corruption declaration for every insurance application – from the exporter and, if applicable, from the financial institution and any other relevant parties.
SERV checks your anti-corruption declaration and information for any signs of corruption and bribery. It also requires applicants to adhere to the applicable Swiss laws, as well as the laws in the buyer’s country.
SERV may carry out an enhanced due diligence check on a case-by-case basis and ask the exporter to sign a more detailed anti-corruption declaration.
Tips for preventing corruption
SERV expects you to define, apply and document appropriate internal control processes to combat corruption. More information about this can be found at the following links:
- SECO – Fight against corruption
- SECO brochure: Preventing corruption – Information for Swiss businesses operating abroad
- The non-governmental organisation “Transparency Switzerland” provides a range of information, guides and manuals on preventing corruption: Transparency International
More information about corruption prevention
The information sheet on Prevention of Corruption in Connection with SERV’s Insurance Products contains details of the following:
- The formal requirements for the anti-corruption declaration
- Your duty of disclosure when applying for insurance from SERV
- The SERV due diligence check
- The relevant provisions of the Swiss criminal law on corruption, especially those of the Swiss Criminal Code