EFRAG has initiated a call for interest for companies to participate in the field testing of the draft Non-EU European Sustainability Reporting Standards (N-ESRS), ahead of a planned public consultation in July 2026.
The initiative follows the resumption of EFRAG’s development work on sustainability reporting standards for non-EU groups, as mandated by the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD). The dedicated standard applies to non-EU multinational corporations with significant activities within the European Union, as defined under Article 40a of the Accounting Directive.
The public consultation on the draft N-ESRS Group Sustainability Reporting Standard is scheduled to launch in the second half of July 2026 and will run for 100 days. This period allows international stakeholders to provide feedback on the proposed reporting framework.
Concurrently, the field test serves as a core component of EFRAG’s standard-setting due process. Interested organisations must register their interest before 1 July 2026 to secure direct engagement with the regulatory body.
The primary objective of the field test is to evaluate the feasibility and operational practicalities of the proposed requirements. The assessment will focus on several critical operational areas:
- Interoperability with existing reporting frameworks
- The application of a mixed reporting approach
- The internationalisation of specific EU regulatory references
Participating companies will simulate the application of the N-ESRS Exposure Draft based on their corporate data. Organisations have the flexibility to test either the full Exposure Draft or select specific thematic sections relevant to their operations.
The field test timeline runs parallel to the public consultation:
- First 70 Days: Participants will simulate the standards and complete a detailed questionnaire regarding the feasibility, relevance, and challenges encountered, whilst proposing potential improvements.
- Final 30 Days: EFRAG will analyse the gathered data and conduct follow-up interviews or interactive workshops with the participating companies to refine the technical aspects of the text.
The feedback collected during this exercise will directly inform EFRAG’s technical modifications to ensure the final standard is practical and appropriate for non-EU corporate structures.
