ISO 19600-2014 PDF

Full title and description

ISO 19600:2014 — Compliance management systems — Guidelines. Guidance for establishing, developing, implementing, evaluating, maintaining and improving an effective and responsive compliance management system applicable to organizations of any size or type.

Abstract

ISO 19600:2014 provides non‑prescriptive guidelines to help organizations design and operate a compliance management system (CMS) aligned with principles of good governance, proportionality, transparency and sustainability. It follows the ISO management‑system High Level Structure to cover context, leadership, planning, support, operation, performance evaluation and continual improvement of compliance activities. The standard is advisory in nature and was later superseded by a requirements standard.

General information

• Status: Withdrawn (superseded by ISO 37301:2021).
• Publication date: Published December 2014 (published 5 December 2014).
• Publisher: International Organization for Standardization (ISO).
• ICS / categories: 03.100.01, 03.100.70.
• Edition / version: Edition 1 (2014).
• Number of pages: 28 pages (official ISO record).

Scope

Provides guidelines for establishing, developing, implementing, evaluating, maintaining and improving a compliance management system within an organization. The guidance is intended to be applicable to all types of organizations; the extent of application is determined by size, structure, nature and complexity of the organization. ISO 19600 is advisory (guidance), not a prescriptive requirements standard.

Key topics and requirements

• High‑level structure aligned with ISO management‑system clauses (Context; Leadership; Planning; Support; Operation; Performance evaluation; Improvement).
• Establishing compliance obligations, roles and responsibilities, and governance arrangements.
• Risk‑based approach to identifying and managing compliance risks.
• Designing controls, policies, procedures and monitoring mechanisms adapted to organizational complexity and proportionality.
• Performance measurement, auditing, continual improvement and management review for the CMS.
• Emphasis on governance, transparency, proportionality and sustainability.
• Advisory guidance only — later replaced by a requirements‑based standard (ISO 37301).

Typical use and users

Used by compliance officers, legal and regulatory teams, risk managers, internal audit, senior management and boards, as well as consultants designing or benchmarking compliance programmes. Applicable across sectors (financial services, healthcare, manufacturing, public sector, NGOs) and to organizations seeking structured guidance rather than a certifiable requirements standard.

Related standards

ISO 37301:2021 — Management system for compliance — Requirements (replaces ISO 19600 and provides a certifiable requirements standard). ISO 19600 also aligns conceptually with ISO 31000 (risk management) and is related to sector/subject standards such as ISO 37001 (anti‑bribery). ISO 19600 drew on earlier national work (for example Australia’s AS 3806).

Keywords

compliance management, compliance management system (CMS), governance, compliance obligations, compliance risk, PDCA, guidelines, ISO 19600, non‑prescriptive guidance.

FAQ

Q: What is this standard?

A: ISO 19600:2014 is an ISO international standard titled "Compliance management systems — Guidelines" that provides guidance to design, implement and improve a compliance management system.

Q: What does it cover?

A: It covers the structure and elements of a compliance management system including context, leadership, planning, support, operation, performance evaluation and improvement, with emphasis on governance, proportionality and transparency. The document is advisory and intended to be adapted to organizational needs.

Q: Who typically uses it?

A: Compliance officers, legal and regulatory teams, risk and internal audit professionals, senior management and consultants across public and private sectors use it to build or benchmark compliance programmes.

Q: Is it current or superseded?

A: ISO 19600:2014 has been withdrawn and superseded by ISO 37301:2021 (a requirements standard for compliance management systems). Organizations seeking a certifiable requirements standard should use ISO 37301; ISO 19600 served as the guideline foundation.

Q: Is it part of a series?

A: It follows ISO management‑system principles (High Level Structure) and is related to other management‑system standards (for example ISO 31000 on risk and ISO 37001 on anti‑bribery). Its role within ISO’s portfolio was replaced by ISO 37301 which continues compliance‑management standardization.

Q: What are the key keywords?

A: Compliance management, compliance obligations, CMS, governance, risk‑based approach, PDCA, guidelines, continual improvement.