The implementation of the UK Bribery Act has been delayed, the UK Ministry of Justice has confirmed today.
The Act was due to be implemented in April 2011, three months after guidance was to be published about the “adequate procedures” firms should have in place to prevent bribery.
It was originally thought that the guidance would be published at the end of this month. The guidance has now been delayed although there are rumours circulating that it may be published in the next few weeks.
As previously reported, the Act has been the subject of significant debate about its potential adverse impact on the British economy as well as of criticism about its lack of clarity.
It is thought that the delay will result in changes to the guidance, a draft of which has so far been the subject of consultation, but not to the Act itself.