The National Contact Point (NCP) for Responsible Business Conduct (RBC) of the OECD is an institutional body established within the Italian Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy in charge of:
- promoting the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises and encouraging the adoption of due diligence practices.
- handling the specific instance procedure, a non-judicial mechanism intended to provide a consensual, non-adversarial, “forum for discussion” for issues that arise relating to implementation of the Guidelines.
- contributing to policy coherence within government action on responsible business conduct.
The OECD Guidelines
The OECD Guidelines for multinational enterprises (oecd.org) are a voluntary standard for responsible business conduct developed by the OECD and addressed to all companies operating in international markets.
The Guidelines have become a key reference framework for compliance with a wide range of regulations affecting companies operating within the European Union (such as CSDDD, CSRD, etc.).
They provide practical guidance for integrating environmental, social, and governance (ESG) responsibilities into business operations.
Business, Human Rights and Sustainable Development
The OECD Guidelines are fully aligned with the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs) and represent their main implementation tool within the broader framework of corporate social responsibility (CSR).
Main objectives of the Guidelines:
- enhancing the contribution of businesses to responsible, inclusive, and sustainable development;
- integrating environmental and social sustainability into business models;
- preventing, mitigating, and systematically managing actual and potential adverse impacts directly or indirectly linked to business activities;
- promoting an approach that safeguards business interests, reputation, profitability, and competitiveness in an increasingly complex, interconnected, and risk-prone global environment.
The role of businesses is considered essential to achieving internationally agreed sustainability goals, particularly those set out in the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Through the Italian NCP for RBC, the Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy (MIMIT) is a member of the Interministerial Committee for Human Rights at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MAECI), which is responsible for drafting and implementing the Italian National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights (NAP BHR) (esteri.it).
The International NCP Network
The Italian NCP is part of the international Network of National Contact Points (oecd.org), established in countries adhering to the OECD Guidelines.
The network aims to ensure the widest possible dissemination and effective implementation of the Guidelines at the national level.
Handling of Specific Instances
National Contact Points contribute to the effectiveness of the OECD Guidelines also by handling specific instances submitted by stakeholders who believe that a company has caused or risks causing adverse impacts through its conduct.
By offering its good offices, the NCP assists the parties involved proposing mediation and conciliation services, with the objective of achieving a dialogue for better comprehension and mutually agreed solutions consistent with the principles of the OECD Guidelines.
Structure
The NCP is headed by the Director General for Industrial Policy at MIMIT. It is managed by a Secretariat assigned to Division IV and supported—also through the handling of specific instances—by a multi-stakeholder advisory body, the NCP Committee for RBC.
The Committee is composed of institutional representatives (MAECI, MASE, MEF, Ministry of Justice, MLPS, MdG, MdS, MASAF), representatives of the Conference of Regions and Autonomous Provinces, business associations (Unioncamere, Confindustria, CNA, Confcommercio), major trade unions (CGIL, CISL, UIL), the Italian Banking Association (ABI) and civil society representatives, including the National Council of Consumers and Users (CNCU) and the Italian Association of Organizations for International Cooperation and Solidarity (AOI).
Reports
Each year, the NCP submits to the OECD a Report on the fulfilment of its institutional duties during the previous year.
The Italian NCP’s Annual Reports to the OECD are available at the following links: 2024-2023-2022-2021-2020-2019-2018-2017-2016-2015-2014-2013-2012-2011-2010
The NCP Programme of Activity is adopted annually by the Italian NCP for RBC, in collaboration with the NCP Committee, upon proposal of the Secretariat or other members of the Committee. It also presents the results achieved in the previous year (2025–2011): 2024-2023-2022-2021-2020-2019-2018-2017-2016-2015-2014-2013-2012-2011
Furthermore, the Italian NCP has undergone a Peer Review exercise, in which representatives of the OECD and NCPs from other countries, involving stakeholders, conducted an on-site visit, interviews, hearings, and questionnaires, leading to the preparation of a final report. This report highlights strengths and areas for improvement, from a constructive perspective. See the Peer Review Report of the Italian NCP (2017) (official version in English and courtesy translation in Italian).
This year the Italian NCP has undergone a second peer review in 2025, on a mandatory basis under the OECD schedule. The final report of the Peer Review is expected by summer 2026.
Legal Framework
- Decree of 4 June 2015 (pdf) – Amendments to the NCP
- Decree of 30 July 2004 (pdf) – Establishment and structure of the NCP
- Article 39 – Law 273/2002 (pdf) – Establishment of the NCP
Contact
Email:
Responsible Office