The U.K. government is reviewing the potential impact of its tough new bribery and corruption laws amid concerns that they could damage the country's economic recovery.

The Ministry of Justice confirmed that the Bribery Act, which is due to take effect in April, will be looked at as part of the government's wider “Growth Review,” which is aimed at reducing the regulatory burden on businesses.

The Bribery Act will make it a criminal offense for British companies to offer or pay bribes anywhere in the world, and requires them to have “adequate procedures” in place to prevent bribery. It makes no allowance for small “facilitation payments”.

A ministry spokesperson would not comment on the extent to which the Act is being reconsidered, but said: “The Growth Review is ensuring that every government department is doing everything it can to identify the obstacles for investment and help the country's economy to grow.

"The Government is clear that corruption should not be considered an acceptable way to win business and the U.K. stands alongside the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development countries, all of whom have criminalized foreign bribery.”

Despite the review, companies shouldn't delay their preparations for the legislation, said David de Ferrars, head of fraud and partner in the commercial disputes practice at international law firm Taylor Wessing. "It is unlikely that the U.K. government would make any wide changes to the spirit of the Act at this stage and, as such, we would advise companies to continue to prepare for the Act coming into force in April 2011," he said.

The ministry said it would shortly be publishing guidance to help businesses “put practical procedures in place that help to prevent bribery."