The Guidelines are recommendations on responsible business conduct addressed by Governments to multinational enterprises operating in or from their territories. Although many businesses have developed their own codes of conduct in recent years, the OECD Guidelines are the only multilaterally endorsed and comprehensive code that Governments are committed to promoting.

Although endorsed by Governments, the Guidelines are voluntary and not intended to override local laws and regulations. They are perhaps best described as supplementary principles and standards of corporate behavior of a non-legal character.

The Guidelines are divided into eight chapters that contain advice for business in areas such as employment and industrial relations, combating bribery consumer interests and taxation. Also included in the Guidelines are implementation procedures. You can download the full text of the Guidelines using the following link. Text of the Guidelines

National Contact Points
The OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises (the Guidelines) were first agreed in 1976. They were most recently revised in June 2000 to establish a specific instance procedure which allows for complaints to be brought that companies are not following the Guidelines. The revision in 2000 also committed adhering countries to establishing a National Contact Point to promote the Guidelines and manage the complaints relating to companies registered in or operating from their countries. NCPs do this by facilitating dialogue and mediating between the two parties. If they consider that the company has breached the Guidelines the NCP will issue a statement saying how and making recommendations to the company on how it could bring its practices into line with the Guidelines in the future.

UK National Contact Point: Contact Details

Margaret Sutherland Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Bay 4133 1 Victoria Street London SW1H OET Tel: 020 7215 5756 Fax: 020 7215 2234 Margaret.sutherland@berr.gsi.gov.uk	Martin Taylor Department for International Development 1 Palace Street London SW1E 5HE Tel: 020 7023 0985 Fax: 020 7023 0719 M-Taylor@dfid.gov.uk
Nick Baker Foreign and Commonwealth Office King Charles Street London SW1A 2AH Tel: 020 70082670 Fax: 020 70083905 Nick.baker@fco.gov.uk

Countries Adhering to the OECD Guidelines
A. OECD Members

B. Non-OECD members that have also adhered
Argentina, Brazil,Chile, Israel, Estonia,Latvia, Lithuania, Romania & Slovenia.

Related Documents

OECD Risk Awareness Tool for Multinational Enterprises in Weak Governance Zones - The National Contact Point is also responsible for promoting the OECD Risk Awareness Tool for Multinational Enterprises in Weak Governance Zones, which aims to help companies that invest in countries where governments are unwilling or unable to assume their responsibilities. It addresses risks and ethical dilemmas that companies are likely to face in such weak governance zones. The Risk Awareness Tool raises a number of questions useful for companies facing such difficult operating environments. We strongly encourage companies considering working in weak governance zones to use the Risk Awareness Tool and other advice in their decision making.

OECD website - Also includes National NCP Annual Statements.

Business and Industry Advisory Committee to the OECD (BIAC)
Trade Union Advisory Committee to the OECD (TUAC)
OECD Watch