Practices warned over impact of Bribery Act

More concerns have been raised about the impact on optical practices and suppliers of the Bribery Act which comes into force next April.

Hot on the heels of a warning that the act could outlaw free gifts and incentives, common in optics, (News 19.11.10), another alert has been sounded over the responsibility and liability of companies and individuals.

Marc Bennett of AEL Partners, an accountancy firm for independent opticians throughout the UK, said the act could not be ignored either by practices, owners or suppliers. Bennett described the law proposed for the UK as one of the strictest in the world, given the scope of its coverage. The act will not only cover the giving and receiving of bribes but will place an onus on companies, directors and agents to take active steps to prevent bribery taking place. This will be enshrined in the offence of 'failure of an enterprise to prevent bribery occurring'.