What is Anti-Corruption Law?
German law has no single "anti-corruption act." Corruption prevention relies on multiple laws that constitute mandatory exclusion grounds in procurement.
Key Criminal Offenses
Bribery in business (§ 299 StGB), acceptance of advantages (§ 331), corruption (§ 332), granting advantages (§ 333), bribery of officials (§ 334), with penalties up to 10 years.
Procurement Consequences
Corruption offenses lead to mandatory exclusion (§ 123 GWB) for 5 years from final conviction.
Self-Cleaning (§ 125 GWB)
Affected companies may rehabilitate through damages payment, comprehensive cooperation with investigators, and organizational measures (compliance program, personnel consequences).
Practical Tip
Corruption allegations can be existentially threatening. Patterno supports you in maintaining a transparent, compliant procurement process.